fisheries and marine service manuscript report …14 map showing sampling locations on creek mile...

Fisheries and Marine Service

Manuscript Report 1483

January 1979

A SURVEY OF THE FISH RESOURCES OF

LIARD RIVER TRIBUTARIES AS RELATED TO

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION,

1976-77

by

A. McKinnon and F. N. Hnytka

Western Region

Fisheries and Marine Service

Department of Fisheries and the Environment

Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N6

This is the tenth Manuscript Report

from the Western Region, Winnipeg

ERRATA

McKinnon, G. A., and F. N. Hnytka. 1979. A survey of the fish resources of Liard Rivertributaries as related to highway construction and operation, 1976-77, Can. Fish. Mar. Serv.MS Rep. 1483: vii + 84 p.

ERRATA SHEET

p. 18: Table 27 - “Lenght” should read “Length”p. 44: Photo 1 - Should read “Creek Mile 8.0 July 30, 1977.

Pools created by beaver dams, common inareas downstream of the highway crossing.”

Photo 2 - Should read “Creek Mile 8.0 August 5, 1977.Liard Highway crossing - note well definedchannel.

ii

© Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1979Cat. no. Fs 97-4/1483 ISSN 0701-7618

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Abstract/Résumé . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Description of the study area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Review of existing knowledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Materials and methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chemical and physical parameters . . . . . . . . . 2Temperature and conductivity . . . . . . . . . . 2Water chemistry analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Stream discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Basic catchment data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Biological parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Fish collection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Fish analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Mile 8.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Mile 14.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Mile 21.5 (Poplar River) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Mile 26.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Mile 29.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Mile 32.5 (Birch River) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Mile 36.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Mile 38.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Mile 39.6, 39.9, 40.9, 41.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Mile 42.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Mile 43.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Mile 45.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Mile 48.9, 49.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Mile 50.7, 51.9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Mile 59.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Mile 63.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Mile 63.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Mile 66.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Mile 67.0 (Blackstone River) . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Mile 67.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Mile 71.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Mile 78.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Mile 82.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Mile 82.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Mile 85.9 (Netla River) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Mile 93.5, 95.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Mile 96.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Mile 99.9-100.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Mile 110.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Mile 113.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Mile 115.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Mile 117.5 (Rabbit Creek) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Mile 121.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Mile 124.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Mile 129.3 (Muskeg River) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Mile 135.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Mile 135.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Mile 142.5, 147.7, 148.6, 150.3, 152.3,

153.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Group I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Group II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Group III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Group IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Group V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Page

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Creek Mile 8.0. Summary of physical andbiological data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Creek Mile 14.1. Summary of physical andbiological data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

3 Mile 21.5 (Poplar River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977 . . . . . . . 5

4 Creek Mile 26.5. Summary of physicaldata, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

5 Creek Mile 29.8. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6 Mile 32.5 (Birch River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977 . . . . . . . 6



9 Creek Mile 39.6, 39.9, 40.9, 41.5.Summary of physical and biologicaldata, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8



12 Creek Mile 45.9, Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

13 Creek Mile 48.9, 49.9. Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977 . . . . . . 10

14 Creek Mile 50.7, 51.9. Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977 . . . . . . 11

15 Creek Mile 59.3. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12




19 Mile 67.0 (Blackstone River). Summaryof physical and biological data, 1977 . . . . 14




23 Creek Mile 82.3. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1976-77 . . . . . . . . . . . 16

24 Creek Mile 82.6. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1976-77 . . . . . . . . . . . 16

25 Mile 85.9 (Netla River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1976-77 . . . 17

26 Creek Mile 93.5, 95.0. Summary ofphysical data, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18


28 Creek Mile 99.0-100.5. Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977 . . . . . . 19

29 Creek Mile 110.7. Summary of physicaldata, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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Table Page



32 Mile 117.5 (Rabbit Creek). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1976-77 . . . . 21



35 Mile 129.3 (Muskeg River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1976-77 . . . . 23



LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Map showing the proposed Liard Highwayroute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

2 Map showing sampling locations on CreekMile 8.0 and Creek Mile 14.1, and theproposed highway alignment . . . . . . . . . . 31

3 Map showing sampling locations onPoplar River, Creek Mile 26.5, CreekMile 29.8 and Birch River, and theproposed highway alignment . . . . . . . . . . 32

4 Map showing sampling locations onCreek Mile 36.1, Creek Mile 38.5,Creek Mile 39.6, Creek Mile 39.9,Creek Mile 40.9, Creek Mile 41.5,Creek Mile 42.8, Creek Mile 43.8and Creek Mile 45.9, and theproposed highway alignment . . . . . . . . . . 33

5 Map showing sampling locations onCreek Mile 48.9, Creek Mile 49.9,Creek Mile 50.7 and Creek Mile 51.9,and the proposed highway alignment . . . . 34

6 Map showing sampling locations onCreek Mile 59.3, Creek Mile 63.0and Creek Mile 63.7, and theproposed highway alignment . . . . . . . . . . 35

7 Map showing sampling locations onCreek Mile 66.0, Blackstone River,Creek Mile 67.3 and Creek Mile 71.8,and the proposed highway alignment . . . . 36


9 Map showing sampling locations onNetla River, and the proposedhighway alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

10 Map showing sampling locations onCreek Mile 93.5, Creek Mile 95.0,Creek Mile 96.8 and Creek Mile 99.9-100.5, and the proposed highway . . . . . . . 39alignment


12 Map showing locations on Rabbit Creek.Creek Mile 121.1 and Creek Mile124.3, and the proposed highwayalignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Figure Page

13 Map showing sampling locations on MuskegRiver, and the proposed highwayalignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

14 Map showing sampling locations on CreekMile 135.0, Creek Mile 135.4, CreekMile 142.5, Creek Mile 147.7, CreekMile 148.6, Creek Mile 150.3, CreekMile 152.3 and Creek Mile 153.5, andthe proposed highway alignment . . . . . . . 43

LIST OF PHOTOS

Photo Page

1 Creek Mile 8.0. August 5, 1977. LiardHighway crossing - note well-definedchannel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

2 Creek Mile 8.0. July 30, 1977. Poolscreated by beaver dams, common inareas downstream of the highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

3 Creek Mile 8.0. July 30, 1977. Boulderand gravel substrate, typical of theregion near the mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

4 Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977. LiardHighway crossing and burrow pit . . . . . . . 45

5 Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977. Highcliffs, characteristic of the areaimmediately upstream of the mouth . . . . . 45

6 Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977.Boulder and gravel substrate, typicalof the region near the mouth . . . . . . . . . . . 45

7 Poplar River. May 13, 1974. Boulderand gravel substrate and culvertinstallation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

8 Poplar River. August 5, 1977. Highbanks, characteristic of reaches closeto the Liard River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

9 Creek Mile 29.8. July 8, 1977. Softsubstrate covered with rootedvegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

10 Birch River. July 8, 1977. Graveland boulder substrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

11 Birch River. July 8, 1977. Gill netset downstream of the proposed highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

12 Creek Mile 36.1. July 5, 1977. Ill-defined channel through muskegterrain dominated by black spruce . . . . . . 47

13 Creek Mile 38.5. July 5, 1977. Flowin an erratically wandering channeldotted by many small pools . . . . . . . . . . . 47

14 Creek Mile 38.5. July 8, 1977. Smallarea of gravel and boulders near thehighway crossing site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

15 Creek Mile 38.5. July 12, 1977.Birch, willow and alder border thestream in some areas (Location 2) . . . . . . 49

16 Creek Mile 39.9. July 12, 1977.Terrain of low gradient accountsfor indistinct drainage pattern . . . . . . . . . . 49

17 Creek Mile 42.8. July 5, 1977. Bedmaterial , consisting of a combinationof organic and course gravel bouldermaterials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

18 Creek Mile 42.8. July S, 1977.Angling at Location 1 producednegative results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

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Photo Page

19 Creek Mile 43.8. July 7, 1977.Braided channel dotted by smallpools and beaver impoundments(Location 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

20 Creek Mile 43.8. May 29, 1977.Longnose suckers in sexually ripecondition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

21 Creek Mile 45.9. July 11, 1977.Substrate, comprised mainly of siltand organic debris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

22 Creek Mile 48.0. July 9, 1977. Asmall stream with low gradient butgood channel definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

23 Creek Mile 49.9. July 11, 1977.Coarse gravel and boulder substrate,intersticed by alluvial material . . . . . . . . . 51

24 Creek Mile 48.9. July 11, 1977.Arctic grayling and longnosesuckers caught at Location 1 bygill net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

25 Creek Mile 48.9. July 11, 1977.Arctic grayling, brook stickleback,finescale dace and longnose suckercaught in fry trap at Location 1 . . . . . . . . . 51

26 Creek Mile 51.9. July 5, 1977.Beaver dams located at proposedhighway crossing (Location 1) . . . . . . . . . 51

27 Creek Mile 50.7. July 11, 1977.Meandering channel with beaver damdownstream of the proposed highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

28 Creek Mile 50.7. July 30, 1977.Substrate composed of organic-rich silt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

29 Creek Mile 50.7. July 30, 1977. Ajuvenile Arctic grayling atLocation 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

30 Creek Mile 59.3. July 5, 1977. Well-defined channel with a gravel-bouldersubstrate near the proposed highwayalignment (Location 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

31 Creek Mile 592. May 29, 1977.Mature Arctic grayling captured atLocation 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

32 Creek Mile 63.0. July 12, 1977.33 Substrate near the crossing,

composed of areas of boulder andgravel alternating with a sand siltmixture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

34 Creek Mile 66.0. July 12, 1977.Deposition of alluvial materialsnear mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

35 Blackstone River. June 15, 1972.Meanders near proposed highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

36 Creek Mile 67.3. July 14, 1977.Single meandering channel withalternating riffles and pools . . . . . . . . . . . 55

37 Creek Mile 67.3. July 14, 1977. Bedmaterial consisting of gravel andboulders at confluence with CreekMile 71.8 (Location 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

38 Creek Mile 71.8. July 12, 1977. Bedmaterial characterized by alluvialclay and sand mixed with organicmaterial near the proposed highwaycrossing (Location 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

39 Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977. Flowin a winding and ill-defined channelinto the Netla River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Photo Page

40 Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977.Gradient is low in areas downstreamof the proposed highway crossing . . . . . . . 55

41 Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977.Substrate consisting of clay andorganic sediment with much associateddebris (Location 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

42 Creek Mile 82.3. August 1, 1977.Stream base near the mouth consistingmainly of alluvial material (Location 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

43 Creek Mile 82.6. August 1, 1977.Stream bed made up of alluvial siltslittered with debris (Location 2) . . . . . . . . 57

44 Netla River. July 13, 1977. Atconfluence with Creek Mile 78.1, awide flooded channel influenced byLiard River stage conditions . . . . . . . . . . . 57

45 Creek Mile 96.8. August 1, 1977. Aheavy deposition of Liard siltsmixed with debris forms the streambase near the mouth (Location 1) . . . . . . . 57

46 Creek Mile 96.8. August 1, 1977.Flow in a series of rapids and poolsover a gravel and boulder bottomupstream from the mouth . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

47 Creek Mile 99.9-100.5. July 15, 1977.Liard River alluvium forms the streambed near the mouth (Location 1) . . . . . . . . 57

48 Creek Mile 113.8. July 20, 1977.Waterfall downstream of the proposedhighway crossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

49 Creek Mile 113.8. July 20, 1977.Downstream areas characterized byflow over bare rock and boulderswith some small gravel areas . . . . . . . . . . 59

50 Creek Mile 115.7. July 6, 1977. Bedmaterial near the highway alignment,consisting of boulders intersticedwith silt in pool areas and gravel andboulders in riffle areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

51 Creek Mile 115.7. July 6, 1977.Mouth area characterized by a seriesof small rapids and pools over coarsegravel and large boulders (Location 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

52 Creek Mile 115.7. May 29, 1977.Mature Arctic grayling captured atLocation 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

53 Rabbit Creek. July 6, 1977. Boulderand gravel substrate near theproposed highway crossing (Location 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

54 Rabbit Creek. July 6, 1977.Confluence with the Liard River(Location 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

55 Creek Mile 121.1. July 19, 1977.Near the mouth, flow is over asubstrate of large boulders andgravel contained within high steepbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

56 Creek Mile 121.1. July 19, 1977.Typical vegetative cover andboulder substrate at Location 2 . . . . . . . . . 61

57 Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977.Open fen area and small headwaterlakes upstream of proposed highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

58 Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977.Area upstream of the proposed highwaycrossing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

vi

Photo Page

59 Creek Mile 124.3. July 5, 1977.60 Large boulder and coarse gravel

substrate near the mouth (Location2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

61 Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977.Mature female Arctic graylingcaptured at Location 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

62 Creek Mile 135.0. July 20, 1977. Well-defined channel downstream of

the proposed highway crossing . . . . . . . . . 6363 Creek Mile 135.4. July 20, 1977.

Construction of airstrip near Fort Liard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

64 Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977.Upstream area, characterized bylow gradient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

65 Creek Mile 147.7. July 19, 1977.Headwater lake on flat plateau . . . . . . . . . 63

66 Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977.Lower section of the streamcharacterized by steep gradient withnumerous rapids and falls over debrisjams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

67 Creek Mile 142.5. July 20, 1977.Stream channel near the PetitotRiver confluence, characterized bylarge boulders with frequent logjams and strewn debris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

68 Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977.Stream channel near the PetitotRiver confluence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

69 Creek Mile 147.7. July 19, 1977.Confluence with Petitot River -note turbidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

70 Petitot River. July 19, 1977.71 Canyon walls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6572 Petitot River. July 19, 1977.

Confluence with Creek Mile 142.5 . . . . . . 6573 Liard River. July 14, 1977.

Liard River valley taken fromNahanni Butte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

74 Liard River. July 30, 1977. CF-HTRon sandbar with Nahanni Butte inthe background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

LIST OF APPENDICES

Appendix Page

1 1977 hydrometeorologic data record forMile 8.0 Liard Highway (from Greyand Jasper 1978) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66





6 Detailed water chemistry of selectedLiard Highway streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

7 Biological data for fish caughtSeptember 21, 1976 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Appendix Page

8 Biological data for fish caught July 6to August 5, 1977 except wherenoted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

9 Food items as percent by number, ofdiet in fish stomachs from LiardHighway streams, September 1976 . . . . . . 76

10 Food items, as percent by number, ofdiet in Arctic grayling stomachsfrom Liard Highway streams, 1977 . . . . . 77

11 Food items, as percent by number, ofdiet in Arctic grayling stomachsfrom Liard Highway streams, 1977 . . . . . 78

12 Food items, as percent by number, ofdiet in longnose sucker stomachsfrom Liard Highway streams, 1977 . . . . . 79

13 Food items, as percent by number, ofdiet in Cyprinid stomachs fromLiard Highway streams, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . 80

14 Food items, as percent by number, ofdiet in northern pike, slimysculpin and brook sticklebackstomachs from Liard Highway streams,1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

15 Biological data for fish collectedfrom lakes along the Liard Highwayroute, August 3, 1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

16 List of fish species taken from LiardRiver tributaries crossed by theproposed Liard Highway and includingheadwater lakes, 1971-1977 . . . . . . . . . . . 83

17 Alphabetical list of common names andassociated generic names for fishcaptured from Liard Highway streams,1971-1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

vii

ABSTRACT

McKinnon, G. A. and F. N. Hnytka. 1979. A survey of the fish resources of Liard Rivertributaries as related to highway construction and operation, 1976-77. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv.MS Rep. 1483: vii + 84 p.

A survey of the fish resources of Liard River tributaries to be crossed by highway constructionwas conducted during the fall of 1976 and summer of 1977. A total of 49 watercourses wereinvestigated. Data were collected on fish species composition, habitat type and utilization, waterchemistry, and stream discharge rates. Using this data in conjunction with that collected as a resultof previous studies in the area, recommendations are presented to ensure the protection of fishresources and habitat during highway construction and operation.

Key words: highway construction; environmental impact; aquatic environment; fishery biology;stream flow; chemical analysis.

RESUME

McKinnon, G. A. and F. N. Hnytka. 1979. A survey of the fish resources of Liard Rivertributaries as related to highway construction and operation, 1976-77. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv.MS Rep. 1483: vii + 84 p.

A l’automne 1976 et à l’été 1977, les auteurs ont fait l’inventaire des ressources halieutiques(composition des espèces de poissons, nature et utilisation des habitats, chimie de l’eau et débit) de49 tributaires de la Liard River, qui seront traverses par une autoroute. A partir de leurs données etd’autres antérieures, réunies sur la région, les auteurs présentent des recommandations qui visent àprotéger le poisson et son habitat durant la construction de l’autoroute et après.

Mots-clés: construction d’une autoroute; incidences sur l’environnement; milieu aquatique;ichtyologie; débit; analyse chimique.

1

INTRODUCTION

The Liard Highway, as presently proposed, willprovide 357.3 km (222 mi) of all-weather road fromthe vicinity of Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories toFort Nelson, British Columbia.

Construction of the first 34.6 km (21.5 mi) ofthe Liard Highway in the Northwest Territories wascompleted in 1972 by the Canada Department ofPublic Works (DPW). Approval for construction ofthe remaining 220.3 km (136.8 mi) of highway wasrecently given by Treasury Board and preliminarydesigns including those for stream crossings are nowin preparation.

Measures designed to protect fish resourcesduring activities such as highway construction arelegislated under the Canada Fisheries Act. Recentamendments to the Fisheries Act are intended notonly to ensure the continuing survival of the fisheriesresource, but also to provide the necessary legislativeframework applicable to fish habitat. For the purposesof the Act, fish habitat means spawning grounds andnursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas onwhich fish depend directly or indirectly in order tocarry out their life processes.

The Fish Habitat Section of Fisheries andMarine Service, Western Region, provides anassessment role for highway developments in theNorthwest Territories as they relate to the fishresources. As an aid to highway developers,guidelines entitled “Guidelines for the Protection ofthe Fish Resources of the Northwest Territoriesduring Highway Construction and Operation wereprepared by Dryden and Stein (1975). Theseguidelines, in part, address fisheries problemsassociated with culvert installations and providedesign criteria considered necessary to ensure thatmigrating fish can safely negotiate culvert crossings.

Fish passage designs are however, moredifficult and costly to construct and it is recognizedthat requests for such designs should be supportedwith sufficient field data to demonstrate biologicalneed. It was for this reason that in 1977, Fisheries andMarine Service, under funding from the Departmentof Indian Affairs and Northern Developmentundertook a survey of Liard River tributaries crossedby the proposed Highway alignment.

The objectives of the study were to provide:a) survey information on fish resources and

habitats occurring in Liard River tributaries.b) recommendations that will ensure the

protection of fish resources and habitats duringhighway construction and operation.

It is intended that the recommendationsincluded in this report will be incorporated into finalstream crossing designs for the remainder of thehighway as well as for those crossings alreadyconstructed but which do not meet Fisheries andMarine Service guidelines.

DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA

A good overview of the physiography of thestudy area is provided by Unies (1974). A generaldescription of the area is presented here.

Two major physiographic divisions comprisethe region, namely the Canadian Cordillera to thewest and the Interior Plains to the east. The Cordilleraregion is composed of the Liard and Nahanni Ranges,both part of the Franklin Mountains, with peakelevations of one to two thousand metres above sealevel. The Interior Plains are made up of the morenortherly Great Slave Plain and the Alberta Plateau tothe south. The Liard River, which flows north fromBritish Columbia, forms a crude boundary betweenthe two. Near Nahanni Butte the Liard River losescontact with the mountains and swings east to join theMackenzie River.

The entire proposed Liard Highway is locatedon the east slope of the Liard River valley (Fig. 1).During continental glaciation the Liard valley wasfilled with glacial deposits composed mainly of siltytills containing boulders. Following glacial retreat theLiard River traversed the glacial deposits leaving abroad band of granular alluvial deposits. The presentLiard River channel has incised into the overburdenof glacial till throughout most of its length.

The highway route is located mainly on glacialtills close to their contact with Liard River alluvialdeposits. The glacial till is typically overlain by thinsilt deposits. A large proportion of the drainage areasof streams crossing the highway are muskeg. Areas offlat slope have poor surface drainage with muchponding. Permafrost is discontinuous.

The largest rivers in the study area (Poplar,Blackstone and Muskeg rivers) have their origin onthe divide of land separating the Trout River andLiard River drainages. These rivers have erodedvalleys into the glacial deposits and into alluvialmaterial near the Liard River. In some places theseand smaller streams have cut into underlyingsedimentary rock. Stream channels which haveeroded into glacial deposits typically have substratescomposed of large boulders and gravel. Wherestreams cross alluvial deposits, bed material variesfrom silt to coarse gravel.

REVIEW OF EXISTING KNOWLEDGE

The existing fisheries data base for the LiardRiver tributaries to be crossed by highwayconstruction was very limited prior to this survey.Preliminary fisheries investigations were done on thelarger rivers between the Mackenzie River andNahanni Butte (i.e. Poplar, Birch and Blackstonerivers) during 1971 by Hatfield et al. (1972).Sampling was undertaken during June, July andAugust and attempts were made to estimate the fishspecies composition as well as to locate possiblenursery or spawning areas. Additional informationcollected during May 1972 (Dryden et al. 1973) onthese same Liard River tributaries augments the 1971data.

During 1974, Synergy West Ltd. carried out an

2

environmental assessment of the proposed highwayroute (Synergy 1975), including designation ofstreams requiring protection from highwayconstruction impacts. Unfortunately the scope of thesampling program was insufficient for anycomprehensive impact assessment to be made. Duringthe five-day field program sampling was conductedon four Liard River tributaries which had no previoussampling record, namely Netla River, Rabbit Creek,Creek Mile 121.1 and Muskeg River in addition tothe Poplar, Birch and Blackstone rivers. The authorsconcluded that “It is therefore essential that specieswhich migrate up the tributaries of the Liard River tospawn continue to do so. The streams important forprotection are the Poplar, Birch, Blackstone, Netlaand Muskeg rivers”. Since small tributaries wereessentially ignored, this obviously cannot beconsidered a final list of streams “important forprotection”.

Studies by Jessop et al. (1974), Slaney andCompany (1974) and McKinnon et al. (1978) haveshown that in many instances small tributariesprovide Important habitat for fish. Small tributariesoften play an important seasonal role in the lifehistories of fish species Indigenous to larger riversproviding spawning, nursery and sometimesoverwintering habitat.

Proper design of stream crossing structureswhich can withstand flows from a long term event(e.g. 1:50 year flood) is a major problem whichafflicts many highway developments in the NorthwestTerritories. This is usually due to insufficient streamdischarge records for most areas. Design flows aregenerally represented in terms of a plot of designflood discharge versus basin drainage area. From thisplot the peak discharge flood frequency can beestimated but such data is frequently lacking in theN.W.T.

In 1974 Unies Ltd., on contract to the CanadaDepartment of Public Works (DPW) attempted toprovide run-off data for streams crossed by the LiardHighway using the kinematic wave theory andavailable meteorological data. Their report (UNIES1974, 1975) was intended to be sufficient to provide abasis for estimating the size of structures required forthe crossing of streams along the entire LiardHighway route. The UNIES report was publishedprior to publication of fisheries guidelines (Drydenand Stein 1975) and did not take fish utilization ofstreams into account. Lack of hydrologic informationin the area coupled with a lack of meteorologicstations having long-term records made accuratedeterminations of expected discharges difficult.

At the same time DPW engaged five consultingcompanies to study the hydrology of various sectionsof the Mackenzie Highway. Faced with the problemof assessing the varying results, DPW requested in1975 that the Water Planning and ManagementBranch (WPM) of the Inland Waters Directorate,DFE, undertake a review of the reports and producetentative hydrologic guidelines for the design ofculverts. After studying the consultants’ reportsWPM produced a 50-year design curve which closelyresembled that proposed by FENCO Ltd. (FENCO1974) for the Mile 725-913.3 section of theMackenzie Highway. WPM considered that thiscurve represented the best estimate for preliminarydesign purposes at the time. However,

their second recommendation in part was “In future,as soon as a project of this nature is conceived in aremote area, attempts should be made to initiate aprogram for measuring stream flows andmeteorological conditions. In this way, by the timethe final design stage is reached, there would be somedata available upon which to base estimates of designfloods, water supply, etc.”. (Water Planning andManagement Branch 1975).

The WPM guidelines were not intended tosubstitute for hydrological and meteorological data orfor use in producing final design criteria forindividual stream crossings. Several cases of floodsclose to or exceeding the WPM design flows havebeen observed along the Mackenzie Highway (Jasperand Anderson 1977) suggesting that estimates ofdesign flows by highway consultants may be lessconservative than previously assumed. It is probablethat the 50-year design floods will be greater thanthose already recorded.

The Department of Public Works have utilizedthe WPM curve for preliminary design of streamcrossings along the Liard Highway. There are seriousproblems associated with its use in this physiographicregion (Grey and Jasper 1978).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The entire proposed Liard Highway route wassurveyed from the air and streams were selected forsampling on the basis of three criteria, a) flowconditions, b) channel definition and c) accessibilityby helicopter.

The scope of the 1976-77 survey of Liard Rivertributaries was limited by time and access. It wasnecessary to make aerial judgements in some casesalthough an attempt was made to sample a portion ofeven the smallest tributaries which had definedchannels. The time and methods of samplingundoubtedly limited the species list and it was notpossible to fix overwintering areas. In addition mostsampling was conducted too late to directly detectspring spawning migrations and too early to detectfall spawning migrations.

The sampling program was coordinated suchthat the physical and biological data were obtainedsimultaneously. Sampling locations were located atthe proposed crossing point and near the mouth ofeach stream out of direct Liard River influence. Thetechniques employed and frequency of samplingvaried considerably for each stream dependinglargely on its physical characteristics and anyprevious catch record.

CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PARAMETERS

Temperature and Conductivity

Water temperatures were determined to 1NCwith a hand-held pocket thermometer; conductivityby a YSI Model 33 conductivity meter.

Water Chemistry Analysis

Water samples were collected by filling pre-washed 1 litre Nalgene bottles directly from thesurface of the stream. The water samples were then

3

shipped (refrigerated) to the Freshwater Institute,Water Chemistry Laboratory, Analytical Unit inWinnipeg. Analytical methods were according toStainton et al. (1974).

Stream Discharge

Comparative stream discharge measurementswere taken from many streams on July 29 and 30,1977.

Measurements were taken by means of an OTTFlow Meter Model 10.002-10.049 or an OTT PygmyFlow Meter Model C-2 “10.150” depending on waterdepth. Velocity measurements were taken at 0.6 ofthe depth from the stream surface except where depthallowed measurements to be made at both 0.2 and 0.8of total depth. A tiglon was placed across the streamand velocity measurements made at intervals so thatdischarge could be calculated. In addition, continuousrecording stage monitors were placed in five streamsalong the highway alignment in conjunction withInland Waters Directorate personnel.

Basic Catchment Data

Size of each catchment area and length ofchannel upstream of highway alignment weregenerally taken directly from UNIES (1974) andconverted into metric units. Length of channeldownstream of the alignment was calculated using amap measure wheel on a 1:50,000 topographic map.In some cases all measurements were taken directlyfrom 1:50,000 topographic maps. In these instancescatchment area was calculated using a compensatingpolar planimeter.

BIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS

Fish Collection

Gill Nets: Multifilament or Swedishmonofilament nylon gill nets of 3.8 cm or 5.1 cmstretched mesh, were used in pool areas. Length ofnet used was dependent upon stream width. Nets setin gangs of various mesh sizes were deployed inlakes.

Seine Nets: A 6.1 m beach seine of 3.2 mmoval mesh and a depth of 1.5 m was used in largetributaries and pools of small streams where practical.

Dip Nets: Dip nets made of fine screenmeshing (2 cm x 2 mm square mesh) secured with 20cm and 35 cm metal hoops attached to 1 m metalhandles were utilized when feasible for the capture ofsmall fish.

Fry Traps: Fry drift nets were employed in thecapture of small fish and consisted of a 1 m long apexof 0.6 cm mesh attached to a 20 cm x 50 cm woodenframe. These nets were set in riffle areas with theentrance funnel facing upstream. In some locationsfry holding boxes similar to Porter’s (1973) designwere attached to the netting material.

Angling: Spin-casting rods and reels utilizing avariety of Mepp’s lures were used for the capture ofArctic grayling and northern pike at many locations.

Observations: Visual observations of fish,when they could be positively identified to species,were recorded.

Fish Analysis

Fish were generally divided into two groups(i.e. those with fork length less than 100 mm andthose with fork length greater than 100 mm). Thiswas necessary due to difficulties in preserving largefish in a whole condition for subsequent laboratoryexamination.

Fish With Fork Length Less Than 100 ten: Upon collection, small fish were preserved whole in10% formalin for later laboratory analyses. In thelaboratory, fish were identified to species wherepossible; cyprinids under 20 mm were an exception.Fork length and weight were measured to the nearest1 mm and 0.1 g respectively. Sexual maturity, asdetermined by gonadal development, was recordedaccording to the following categories:

0. juvenile (indeterminate sex)1. immature 2. maturing3. mature 4. ripe5. spent

Otoliths were removed for age determination andstored in glycerin-filled vials.

Fish With Fork Length Greater Than 100 mm:Fork length was measured in the field to the nearest 1mm using a calibrated measuring board. Weight wasmeasured to 5 g units by a 1 kg capacity Chatillonhanging brass tubular scale. Sex and maturity weredetermined as for small fish. Otoliths and/or scaleswere removed for age determination. Stomachs wereremoved, preserved in 10% formalin and returned tothe lab for later analyses.

Scales were taken from a specific region of thefish body depending upon species according toHatfield et al. (1972). These were then placed inmanilla envelopes and allowed to dry.

Aging: Prior to analysis, otoliths weretransferred to a benzyl-benzoate methyl salicylateclearing medium. Otoliths were read under reflectedlight using 20 to 40x magnification of a binoculardissecting microscope. Scales were read utilizing a50x microprojector.

Stomach Contents: Stomachs were removedwhole from the fish and dissected in the laboratory.Stomach content organisms were enumerated andidentified to family where possible.

Identification: Fish were identified to specieswhere possible using McPhail and Lindsey, 1970. Analphabetical list of common names and associatedgeneric names for fish captured is provided inAppendix 17.

4

RESULTS

MILE 8.0

This stream, crossed during the initialconstruction phase of the Liard Highway, flowsthrough a well defined channel into the Liard River(Fig. 2, Photo 1). Tree cover in the area is mainlyblack spruce. Immediately downstream of thehighway crossing the substrate is soft and contains alarge amount of organic material. Pools created bybeaver dams are common along the stream course(Photo 2). Several kilometres upstream from themouth however, a transition occurs as the gradientincreases and the stream begins to flow over a gravelboulder substrate contained by steep canyon walls(Photo 3). A summary of physical data is presented inTable 1 while water chemistry data are provided inAppendix 6.

Sampling was conducted at the highwaycrossing only (Location 1) as the mouth wasinaccessible and could only be observed from the air.Catch-effort data are given in Table 1 and individualfish data are provided in Appendix 8. Stomachanalyses results are presented in Appendix 12.

Longnose sucker fry were captured at thehighway crossing indicating that the species spawnsin this particular stream. The course of the stream, atleast as far upstream as the right of way probablyprovides good habitat for a number of species of fish.The lower reaches appear to offer excellent spawningareas. Fish passage at the highway crossing isconsidered necessary on the basis of data collected.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 1. Creek Mile 8.0. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 178.8 km2

Length of Channel - Upstream of Alignment 30.6 km

- Downstream of Alignment 7.7 km Discharge a

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

05/08/77 1/ dip net Longnose sucker 20

a Continuous stage recorder installed, refer to Appendix 1.

MILE 14.1

The largest tributary of a multi branchingsystem crosses the existing highway at Mile 14.1(Fig. 2, Photo 4). It has its source in a smallheadwater lake and is fed by a number of smalltributaries upstream of the crossing. Channeldefinition immediately downstream of the crossing ispoor as flow becomes indistinct in a muskeg bog.Areas immediately upstream of the mouth arecharacterized by high cliffs (Photo 5) and flow over aboulder and gravel substrate (Photo 6). A summary ofphysical data is presented in Table 2 while waterchemistry data are provided in Appendix 6.

Sampling in this stream was conducted at thehighway crossing (Location 1) and immediatelyupstream of the mouth (Location 2). Catch-effort dataare given in Table 2 with individual fish informationincluded in Appendix 8. Results of stomach contentanalysis are presented in Appendix 11.

Numerous mature Arctic grayling wereobserved and captured at Station 2 however no fishcould be detected near the crossing area. Creek Mile14.1 provides summer feeding habitat for grayling inits lower reaches. The grayling captured were feedingon a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. Itis likely that other species occur here also. The natureof the substrate found in this area indicated thatspawning is also likely. It is not considered probablethat spawning fish migrate as far as the highwaycrossing of this stream due to the unsuitable nature ofthe stream bed. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.


PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 9.3 km

- Downstream of alignment 8.1 kmDischarge a

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

30/07/77 2/ angling Arctic grayling 5

5/08/77 1/ angling/ dip net

- 0


5

MILE 21.5 (Poplar River)

The Poplar River flows through black sprucemuskeg terrain in its upper reaches while high bankscharacterize the reaches close to the Liard River (Fig.3). It flows in a series of pools and rapids over aboulder gravel substrate for much of its length (Photo7, 8). Additional physical data are presented in Table3 while water chemistry data are provided inAppendix 6.

Sampling was undertaken only on CormackLake (Location 1) arid an unnamed lake (Location 2)during this study (Table 3, Appendix 15) but datacollected by other sources indicate that a largediversity of fish species are found in the system.Hatfield et al. (1972) report catches of northern pike,burbot, longnose suckers, longnose dace, Arcticgrayling and trout-perch in 1971 while Synergy(1975) report the capture of slimy sculpins. Dryden etal. (1973) report catches of northern pike, longnosesuckers and white suckers from Cormack Lake.Catch-effort data from the 1977 survey are providedin Table 3 while individual fish data can be found inAppendix 15.

Twin eighteen foot diameter culverts wereinstalled in 1971 and are believed to create a barrierto the upstream migration of fish. Rosenberg andSnow (1977) report that in the spring of 1972grayling fry were found in abundance below thehighway crossing of the Poplar River but that nonewere found above. In addition these authors reportthat thousands of fish of various species were seenswimming in the pools downstream of the crossing in1973 but none above.

The relationship of the Poplar River to the fishresources of the lower Liard River system has beendocumented in the past primarily by the aboveauthors. It is important that spawning migrations offish be able to ascend the Poplar River past thehighway crossing point to reach suitable areas whichexist in upstream areas. The Poplar River providessuitable spawning, nursery, feeding andoverwintering habitat for a variety of fish species.Overwintering areas are evidently available inupstream areas since the crossing is considered to beimpassable to upstream migrating fish and fishbelieved to part of resident populations, have beencaptured in upstream areas.

The replacement of the existing structure withone which will allow passage of migrating fish is verystrongly recommended. Refer to page 26 for specificrecommendations.

Table 3. Mile 21.5 (Poplar River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 1595 km2


- Downstream of alignment 8.1 kmDischarge - not measured

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

03/08/77 1/gill net northern pike 132/gill net northern pike 5

MILE 26.5

This stream has already been crossed by theLiard Highway (Fig. 3). It is a small creek whichflows in a poorly defined course for much of itslength before descending rapidly into the Liard River.Near the mouth the bed material consists of bouldersand gravel while in upstream areas the creek flowsover a soft bottom. Additional physical data areprovided in Table 4.

Although based entirely on aerialreconnaissance, it is probable that only the areaimmediately upstream of the mouth could providefavourable habitat for some fish species, especiallycyprinids. Fish passage requirements at the crossingare not considered necessary. Refer to page 26 forspecific construction recommendations.

Table 4. Creek Mile 26.5 Summary of physicaldata, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 16.3 km2 Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 6.4 km

- Downstream of alignment 1.9 km Discharge - not measured

6

MILE 29.8

Creek Mile 29.8 is a small multichanneled,debris laden stream which flows into the Liard River(Fig. 3). Beaver activity is common throughout andthe stream bed is cris-crossed with fallen trees. Thesubstrate near the right of way is soft and coveredwith rooted vegetation (Photo 9) while near themouth Liard River alluvium underlays a veneer ofgravel and boulders. Black spruce is common alongthe stream banks with some mixed hardwoodsoccurring near the Liard River confluence. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 5.

Sampling sites were located at the highwayright of way (Location 1) and near the mouth(Location 2). Fish were caught only in the latter area.Catch-effort data are included in Table 5 whileindividual fish information is given in Appendix 8.

Immature Arctic grayling and unidentified frywere found in abundance at Location 2 indicating thatspawning occurs in this stream. Grayling were mainlyfeeding on Dipteran pupae and larvae (Appendix 10).As a result of our catch data and the unsuitability ofthe stream bed at Location 1 it is consideredimprobable that migrations of spawning fish ascendCreek Mile 29.8 as far as the highway crossing. Referto page 26 for specific recommendations.

Table 5. Creek Nile 29.8. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL



BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

08/07/77 2/angling/ dip net dip net dip net observe observe

- Arctic grayling unident. cyprinid Arctic grayling (I) unident. cyprinid (I)

09

14num obsnum obs

(I) - Immaturenum obs - numerous observed

MILE 32.5 (Birch River)

The Birch River is a meandering streamcharacterized by high, steep cliffs along its course(Fig. 3). A waterfall (approximately 3 m high) located8 km upstream from the mouth is believed to presenta complete natural barrier to upstream fishmigrations. A number of beaver dams are locatedabove the waterfall barrier. Downstream of this pointhowever the river is characterized by a gravel andboulder bottom and rapid stream flow (Photo 10, 11).Excellent spawning habitat exists where gravel bedsoccur. Additional physical data are presented in Table6, while water chemistry data are provided inAppendix 6.

Sampling was undertaken at a site downstreamof the crossing (Location 1) where longnose suckers,trout perch, and unidentified cyprinids were caught.Catch-effort data is given in Table 6 with additionaldata on individual fish included in Appendix 8.Stomach analyses results are presented in Appendix12. A small headwater lake (Location 2) locatedabove the falls was sampled by gill net on Aug. 8,1977. No fish were caught in a 24 hour set. Previousfish collections taken by Hatfield et al. (1972) andSynergy (1974) in the Birch River included lakechub, brook stickleback, Arctic grayling, slimysculpins and longnose dace in addition to thosespecies caught during this study.

Excellent fish habitat exists in the Birch RiverIn areas below the falls. Arctic grayling and a numberof other species utilize this area extensively asspawning, rearing and feeding habitat. Localizedoverwintering areas may exist in areas of deepflowing water. It is essential that spawning migrationsof fish be able to move to areas upstream of thehighway crossing where suitable spawning substrateexists. The crossing structure must be built toaccommodate the passage of fish. Refer to page 26for specific construction recommendations.

Table 6. Mile 32.5 (Birch River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL



BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

08/07/77 1/seine/ dip net

longnose suckertrout-perchunident. cyprinid

301

2103/08/77 2/gill net - 0

7

MILE 36.1

This small stream, for the most part, flowsslowly in an ill-defined channel through muskegterrain dominated by black spruce (Fig. 4, Photo 12).The substrate is composed mainly of a debris ladenorganic material. However, near the mouth, CreekMile 36.1 cascades over a course boulder substratewithin a deeply entrenched channel bordered byaspen vegetation. Additional physical data areprovided in Table 7.

Sampling was conducted at the mouth(Location 2) while only visual observations weremade at the highway crossing (Location 1). AtLocation 2 numerous cyprinid fry were captured.Catch-effort data are presented in Table 7 withindividual fish data included in Appendix 8.

Creek Mile 36.1 appears to provide suitablehabitat for cyprinids only throughout most of itslength. The capture data indicates that spawningprobably occurs near the mouth. Fish passage designsare not required at the proposed crossing. Refer topage 26 for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL



BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

5/07/77 1/angling/ - 0 dip net2/dip net unident. cyprinid 46

MILE 38.5

Creek Mile 38.5 flows slowly in an erraticallywandering channel, dotted by many small poolscreated by beaver dams (Fig. 4, Photo 13). Althougha few small areas of gravel and boulders wereobserved near the crossing site (Photo 14) substrategenerally consisted of silt and degraded organicmaterial overlain with debris. Black spruce bog isgenerally characteristic of the drainage area whilebirch, willow and alder border the stream in someareas (Photo 15). Additional physical data areprovided in Table 8 while water chemistry data arepresented in Appendix 6.

Sampling locations were situated at thehighway crossing (Location 1) and at a pointapproximately 500 m upstream of the mouth(Location 2). Young and adult longnose suckers,brook stickle-backs and numerous unidentifiedcyprinid fry were collected. Catch-effort data areshown in Table 8 with individual fish data included inAppendix 8. Stomach analysis results are presented inAppendices 12 and 14.

This stream provides habitat for forage fish andthe presence of fry indicates that spawning doesoccur. The presence of fry at the highway crossingindicates that spawning migrations ascend at least thisfar. Therefore the crossing structure must be built toaccommodate the passage of fish. Refer to page 26for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL



- Downstream of alignment 5.5 kmDischarge (29/07/77) 0.04 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

08/07/77 1/dip net unident. cyprinid 6311/07/77 1/gill net longnose sucker 112/07/77 2/dip net brook stickleback 913/07/77 1/gill net longnose sucker 130/07/77 1/dip net longnose sucker 8

8

MILE 39.6, 39.9, 40.9, 41.5

At miles 39.6, 39.9, 40.9 and 41.5 branches ofthe same Liard River tributary transect the proposedhighway alignment (Fig. 4). The streams drain terrainof low gradient accounting for the indistinct drainagepatterns displayed (Photo 16). Even after theirconfluence into a single stream, the gradient remainslow and the substrate remains a mixture of organicmatter and silt . The streams are all similar and arebest typified as having nominal discharge flowing inill-defined channels. Black spruce is the dominantvegetative cover with alder and willow occurring onstream banks. Additional physical data are presentedin Table 9.

Sampling stations were established at thehighway crossing of Creek Mile 39.9 (Location 1),Creek Mile 40.9 (Location 2) and at a site upstreamof the small lake located approximately 1 km fromthe mouth (Location 3). Fish were caught only atLocation 3 and consisted of longnose sucker fry,unidentified cyprinid fry and immature lake chub.Catch-effort data for all stations are given in Table 9with individual fish information presented inAppendix 8. Results from lake chub stomach contentanalysis can be found in Appendix 13.

The lower reaches of this system evidentlyserve as spawning, nursery and feeding habitat forforage fish. As such it is important that this area bemaintained. However it is considered unlikely thatspawning migrations ascend any of the tributaries asfar as the proposed crossing site. Refer to page 26 forspecific construction recommendations.

Table 9. Creek Mile 39.6, 39.9, 40.9 41.5. Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICALCatchment area 9.1 km2a*

6.8 km2b

15.3 km2c, 0.8 km2d

Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment

- Downstream of alignment

5.6 kma, 3.5 km2b

8.4 kmc, 1.3 kmd*

6.0 kma, 5.7 kmb

4.8 kmc, 3.6 kmd

Discharge - not measured

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

08/07/77 1/angling/ dip net

2/angling/ dip net

-

-

0

0

12/07/77 3/dip net unident. cyprinidlake chublongnose sucker

547

24a Creek Mile 39.6b Creek Mile 39.9c Creek Mile 40.9d Creek Mile 41.5*Measurements taken directly from 1:50,000 topographic maps.

MILE 42.8

The Liard Highway right-of-way transectsCreek Mile 42.8 close to its origin. There is little flowat this point (Fig. 4). The stream channel is well-defined with bed material consisting of a combinationof organic and coarse gravelboulder materials(Photo 17). Water velocity is low throughout thecourse of the stream. Steep silt banks and a substrateof silt with intermittent boulders characterizedownstream areas. Vegetation consists of blackspruce and aspen with tamarack more predominantnear the mouth. Additional physical data are providedin Table 10, while water chemistry data are presentedin Appendix 6.

Sample sites were established at the highwaycrossing (Location 1) (Photo 18) where brooksticklebacks were captured and near the mouth(Location 2) where no fish were caught. Catch-effortdata are included in Table 10 with individual fish dataincluded in Appendix 8. Brook stickleback stomachcontent analysis results are presented in Appendix 14.

Although this stream supports forage fish asshown in the catch record, lack of good flow limitsthe overall importance of the stream. Fish passagerequirements at the highway crossing are notconsidered necessary. Refer to page 26 for specificrecommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

11/07/77 1/fry trap angling/ dip net

brook stickleback-

70


- 0

9

MILE 43.8

This small stream flows slowly in a braidedchannel dotted by many small pools and beaverimpoundments (Fig. 4, Photo 19). Substrate isgenerally a soft material containing fine silts anddegraded organic material. The drainage area can bedescribed in general terms as a black-spruce bog.Additional physical data are presented in Table 11and water chemistry data are found in Appendix 6.

Sampling for fish was undertaken at thehighway crossing site only (Location 1). A gill net seton June 2, 1977 caught seven longnose suckers(Photo 20) and two Arctic grayling, all in a sexuallyripe or spent condition. Fish caught during Julyincluded both immature and adult grayling, brooksticklebacks, finescale dace, longnose sucker fry andunidentified cyprinid fry. Catch-effort data arepresented in Table 11 with individual fish dataincluded in Appendix 8. Results of stomach contentanalyses are presented in Appendices 10 through 14inclusive.

Creek Mile 43.8 supports a sizeable and diversepopulation of fish. Spawning of at least three speciesof fish occurs in the stream and spawning migrationsof these ascend at least as far as the highwayalignment. It is therefore important that spring fishmigrations continue to be allowed to pass thehighway crossing point. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

29/05/77 fry trap 02702/06/77 1/gill net Arctic grayling

longnose sucker07/07/77 1/angling

dip net observe

Arctic graylingunident. cyprinidunident. cyprinid(I)

170

num obs

30/07/77 1/dip net brook sticklebackArctic graylinglongnose suckerfinescale daceunident. cyprinid

53

2331


MILE 45.9

This small stream flows in an ill-definedchannel in its upper reaches then becomes moredefined near the highway alignment (Fig. 4). Thesubstrate is typical of small streams in the area and iscomprised mainly of silt and organic debris (Photo21). Areas of gravel and boulders occurintermittently. Small pools occur frequentlythroughout. Additional physical data are provided inTable 12.

Sampling was undertaken at the proposedcrossing (Location 1) and near the mouth (Location2). Fish species captured included juvenile Arcticgrayling, longnose suckers and unidentifiedCyprinidae. Catch-effort data are presented in Table12 with individual fish information included inAppendix 8. Results of analysis of Arctic graylingand longnose sucker stomachs for content analysiscan be found in Appendices 10 and 12 respectively.

The presence of juvenile fish especially at theproposed crossing site indicates that this creekprovides suitable spawning and nursery habitat for atleast three species of fish. It is important that springmigrations of fish continue to be able to pass theproposed crossing point. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

09/07/77 1/dip net

observe

Arctic grayling unident. cyprinidArctic grayling(I)unident. cyprinid(I)

621

num obsnum obs

11/07/77 2/dip net longnose sucker 15

30/07/77 1/observe dip net

Arctic grayling(I)longnose sucker

16


10

MILE 48.9, 49.9

Two small streams which eventually join toflow into the Liard River are crossed by the proposedhighway at Miles 48.9 and 49.9 (Fig. 5). The drainagebasins are characterized by a low gradient butgenerally good channel definition (Photo 22). Thesubstrate at the alignment is composed of silt andorganic material while in downstream areas there is atransition (Photo 23) to coarse gravel and boulders,intersticed by alluvial material. Vegetation in the areais predominantly black spruce and aspen. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 13 and waterchemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling locations were established at thehighway crossings of Creek Mile 48.9 (Location 1)and Creek Mile 49.9 (Location 2) as well as near thecommon mouth (Location 3). Fish species caught inthis system were Arctic grayling, longnose sucker,finescale dace, brook stickleback, lake chub andslimy sculpin (Photo 24, 25). A sample of finescaledace in spawning condition was collected from CreekMile 48.9 on July 11. Catch- effort data are given inTable 13 and individual fish information are providedin Appendix 8. Results of stomach content analysisare provided in Appendices 10 through 14 inclusive.

This stream system provides favourable habitatfor at least six species of fish. Finescale dace spawnin areas proximal to the highway crossing and it isprobable that at least Arctic grayling and longnosesuckers spawn here as well. Fish passage facilities arenecessary to accommodate spring spawning fish atthese highway crossings. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.

Table 13. Creek Mile 48.9, 49.9. Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 29.8 km2a,


6.0 km2b

9.5 kma,4.8 kmb

- Downstream of alignment 3.7 kma,2.7 kmb

Discharge (30/07/77) 0.03 m3/seca,0.02 m3/secb

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

09/07/77 1/dip net lake chub 2longnose sucker 1

observe Arctic grayling 1 obs

11/07/77 1/gill net Arctic grayling 3longnose sucker 2

fry trap brook stickleback 6finescale dace 62longnose sucker 1lake chub 1

observe Arctic grayling 1 obs3/dip net slimy sculpin 1

Arctic grayling 6

13/07/77 2/gill net Arctic grayling 1 fry trap - 0

30/07/77 1/dip net finescale dace 1 observe Arctic grayling 1 obs observe longnose sucker 1 obs

a Creek Mile 48.9 b Creek Mile 49.9obs - observed

11

MILE 50.7, 51.9

These two streams follow parallel coursesbefore converging into a common channel thatdischarges into the Liard River (Fig. 5). Both streamsoriginate on the slope of a rock scarp and then flow incontorted meandering channels across an expansiveflat region characterized by black spruce bog. Beaverdams and pools alternating with small riffle areas areprominent features (Photos 26, 27). The substrate iscomposed of organic-rich silt but small gravel areasoccur in the upper reaches (Photo 28). The transitionis to boulders and sand downstream. The areaimmediately upstream of the mouth was notaccessible on the ground but was observed by air tohave low flows, with a channel cut deeply into LiardRiver alluvium. Additional physical data are providedin Table 14 and water chemistry data are presented inAppendix 6.

Sampling was conducted at the highwaycrossing of Creek Mile 50.7 (Location 1) and CreekMile 51.9 (Location 2) and at their confluence(Location 3). Fish species captured included Arcticgrayling and longnose suckers at upstream locations,augmented by northern pike, round whitefish andunidentified cyprinids at the junction of the twostreams. Adult Arctic grayling were particularlyplentiful at Location 1. Catch-effort data arepresented in Table 14 with individual fishinformation included in Appendix 8. Results ofstomach content analyses for Arctic grayling,longnose suckers and northern pike are presented inAppendices 10, 11, 12 and 14.

The presence of both juvenile and mature fishand a diversity of species indicate that both CreekMile 50.7 and 51.9 provide important spawning,nursery and feeding areas for fish. Both spring andfall spawning species were captured in the system andit is therefore essential that neither spring nor fallinstream construction be allowed. Fish passage isrequired at both mile 50.7 and mile 51.9. Refer topage 26 for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL

Catchment area 37.3 km2a


55.1 km2b,10 kma,15.3 kmb


Discharge (30/07/77) 0.08 m3/seca

0.16 m3/secb'

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

05/07/77 2/angling Arctic grayling 2

06/07 2/dip net fry trap gill net

Arctic grayling--

100

11/07/77 1/angling gill net dip net3/dip net dip net observe observe

Arctic graylingArctic graylingArctic graylingnorthern pikeunident. cyprinidArctic grayling(I) northern pike(I)

12121

1 obs 7 obs

12/07/77 1/gill net angling 3/gill net gill net

Arctic grayling - northern pikeround whitefish

2011

30/07/77 1/angling dip net observe

Arctic graylingArctic graylinglongnose suckerArctic grayling(I)

321

num obs

a Creek Mile 50.7b Creek Mile 51.9(I) - immaturenum obs - numerous observed

12

MILE 59.3

This stream drains an area characterized byswamp and small intermittent lakes and empties into ahighwater channel of the Liard River (Fig. 6). Theupper reaches of the stream flow in a series of smallpools through an open bog area. The creek transects awell-drained area with good channel definition and agravel-boulder substrate (Photo 30) near the highwayalignment before deepening into alluvial depositsnear the mouth. Beaver dams are commonthroughout. Upstream areas support a black sprucebog community while aspen and white spruce, withalder and willow on the high banks are more commonnear the highway crossing. Additional physical dataare provided in Table 15 and water chemistry data arepresented in Appendix 6.

Sampling was conducted at the highwaycrossing only on this stream (Location 1). Bothmature and juvenile grayling, as well as unidentifiedcyprinid fry were caught (Photo 31). Catch-effort dataare given in Table 15 with individual fish informationincluded in Appendix 8. Results of stomach contentanalysis for Arctic grayling from Creek Mile 59.3 areincluded in Appendices 10 and 11.

A major portion of Creek Mile 59.3 appears toprovide favourable habitat for fish especially Arcticgrayling. The simultaneous occurrence of bothmature and juvenile grayling are indicative of thespawning, nursery and feeding habitat provided bythis stream. Fish passage for spring spawners isrequired at the highway crossing. Refer to page 26 forspecific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL



- Downstream of alignment 4.0 km Discharge (30/07/77)a 0.17 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

28/05/77 1/fry trap gill net

--

00

29/05/77 1/angling Arctic grayling 1

05/07/77 1/angling fry trap observe

Arctic grayling-

northern pike

40

1 obs

06/07/77 1/dip net gill net fry trap

Arctic graylingunident. cyprinid

--

61700

a Continuous stage recorder installed, refer to Appendix 3.obs - observed

MILE 63.0

Creek Mile 63.0 is one of two similar creeksthat drain an extensive wetland plain (Fig. 6). It flowsin a well-defined channel for most of its short courseto the Liard River. Reaches near the mouth arecharacterized by steep clay banks with a substrateconsisting of gravel and boulders embedded in a siltbase. Substrate near the crossing is composed of areasof boulder and gravel alternating with a sand siltmixture (Photo 32, 33). The stream flows through anarea dominated by a trembling aspen-white sprucecommunity. Additional physical data are presented inTable 16.

Sampling stations were established at both thecrossing (Location 1) and near the mouth (Location2). Juvenile Arctic grayling were observed inabundance at both sampling locations. Catch-effortdata are presented in Table 16 while individual fishinformation are included in Appendix 8. Stomachanalysis results for immature Arctic grayling fromCreek Mile 63.0 are found in Appendix 10.

Based on the abundance of juveniles caught,Creek Mile 63.0 appears to provide substantial areasof suitable spawning and nursery habitat for grayling.Since the highway crossing Is located close to themouth of this stream, it is important that noobstructions to fish migration occur. Refer to page 26for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

13/07/77 1/dip net observe

Arctic grayling Arctic grayling(I)

5num obs

14/07/77 1/fry trap gill net angling

Arctic grayling--

200

09/07/77 2/dip net angling observe

Arctic grayling-

Arctic grayling(I)

140

num obs


13

MILE 63.7

This is a small Liard River tributary with asingle distinct channel containing many small pools(Fig. 6). For the most part it flows through areasdominated by black spruce. The substrate consists offine silt and organic material with some small gravelareas near the highway alignment. Downstream atransition to gravel and boulders occurs. Additionalphysical data are presented in Table 17 and waterchemistry data are provided in Appendix 6.

Both the proposed highway crossing (Location1) and the mouth region (Location 2) were sampledbut no fish were captured. Catch-effort data arepresented in Table 17.

Physical similarity and proximity of this streamto Creek Mile 63.0 suggests that it also providesfavourable habitat for fish even though none wereobserved. Lack of positive results in this case isattributed to limited sampling and it is recommendedthat the same environmental conditions forconstruction be placed on this stream as with CreekMile 63.0. Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICALDate

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

09/09/771/angling/ dip net

- 0

2/angling/ dip net

- 0

MILE 66.0

Creek Mile 66.0, a small tributary of theBlackstone River, flows in a well-defined channelover a soft substrate (Fig. 7). The stream traverses alarge swamp region typical of the area andimpoundments are frequent. The area near the mouthis affected by deposition of alluvial materials as aresult of backwater flood conditions on the LiardRiver (Photo 34). An aspen-white spruce communitydominates most of the drainage area. Additionalphysical data are presented In Table 18 and waterchemistry data are provided in Appendix 6.

Sampling was undertaken at the proposedhighway crossing (Location 1) and near the mouth(Location 2). Numerous juvenile Arctic grayling werecaught at Location 1 and one juvenile was observedbut not captured at Location 2. Catch- effort data aregiven in Table 18 while individual fish information isprovided in Appendix 8. Results of stomach contentanalysis for the Arctic grayling are found inAppendix 10.

Creek Mile 66.0 provides suitable conditionsfor Arctic grayling spawning and nursery areas. Fishpassage is required at the proposed crossing site.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.


PHYSICAL

Catchment area N/Ca

Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment N/Ca

- Downstream of alignment N/Ca

Discharge (29/07/77) 0.11 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

09/07/77 1/dip net angling

Arctic grayling-

11 0

12/07/77 2/observe angling/ dip net

Arctic grayling (I)-

1 obs0

a not calculated - stream does not appear on 1:50,000 map sheetobs - observed

14

MILE 67.0 (Blackstone River)

The Blackstone River flows in a meanderingchannel which is severely contorted in the lowerreaches (Fig. 7, Photo 35). The river is characterizedby a cobble-gravel substrate along most of its course.The river system is complexly branched withnumerous smaller tributaries feeding in radially.Oxbows and near cut-offs are common on both theBlackstone and its major tributaries. Additionalphysical data are presented in Table 19 and waterchemistry data are provided in Appendix 6.

Hatfield et al. (1972) report that the Blackstonehas marginal spawning potential due to low waterlevels. However subsequent studies including this oneindicate a very high potential for spawning alongmost of the course of the river. Recent catchesincluding those by Synergy (1975) and the presentstudy suggest that this system is of very greatimportance as a migration route and providesspawning and nursery areas for a variety of species.As there are no major headwater lakes, theBlackstone River likely accommodates overwinteringpopulations only in the lower reaches wheremaximum discharge and pooling could providefavourable conditions.

Twelve species of fish are known to utilize theBlackstone River. Hatfield et al. (1972) list sixspecies caught in 1971, Dryden et al. (1973) list oneadditional species caught in 1972 and Synergy (1975)a further five species caught during 1974. Samplingduring this study was undertaken at a locationapproximately 10 km upstream of the proposedhighway crossing (Location 1). Catch- effort data areprovided in Table 19 and individual fish informationare included in Appendix 8. A species list from allsources is given in Appendix 16.

The importance of the Blackstone River isrelatively well documented and as such this study putlittle emphasis on the system. It is important thatadequate safeguards be implemented in the crossingof the Blackstone River by the Liard Highway so thatspawning migrations are unhampered and criticalhabitats are undisturbed. Refer to page 26 for specificrecommendations.

Table 19. Nile 67.0 (Blackstone River). Summaryof physical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

03/08/77 1/dip net dip net

unident. cyprinid longnose sucker

10 7

MILE 67.3

Creek Mile 67.3 is a fast-flowing tributary ofthe Blackstone River. It is confined to a singlemeandering channel (Fig. 7) and the stream ischaracterized by alternating riffles and pools. (Photo36). Bed material consists of gravel and boulders overmost of the stream course. The drainage area isprimarily vegetated with a white spruce-aspen forest.Additional physical data are provided in Table 20 andwater chemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling locations were established at theproposed highway crossing (Location 1), at theconfluence with Creek Mile 71.8 (Location 2) (Photo37) and approximately seven km upstream of thehighway crossing (Location 3). Fish species capturedincluded longnose sucker fry, lake chub, adultgrayling and unidentified cyprinid fry. Catch-effortdata are given in Table 20 with individual fishinformation provided in Appendix 8. Stomachcontent analysis results for Arctic grayling, longnosesuckers and lake chub taken from Creek Mile 67.3are provided in Appendices 11, 12 and 13.

In addition to this study, Creek Mile 67.3 wassurveyed by Synergy in 1974. Their catch wascomprised of juvenile Arctic grayling and longnosesuckers and lake chub (Appendix 16).

On the basis of the information collected, CreekMile 67.3 is considered to provide important habitatto the fish resources of the area. The highwaycrossing of Creek Mile 67.3 is more potentiallydamaging because of its proximity to the mouth. It isimportant that fish are able to move up the systemunhindered. Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 20. Creek Nile 67.3. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 38.6

- Downstream of alignment 2.4Discharge (29/07/77) 4.94 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

28/05/77 1/seine gill net angling

---

000

14/07/77 2/dip net dip net angling

longnose suckerunident. cyprinid -

31110

14/07/77 3/angling dip net dip net dip net

Arctic graylinglake chublongnose suckerunident. cyprinid

1146

15/07/77 2/gill net - 029/07/77 1/dip net longnose sucker 8

15

MILE 71.8

Creek Mile 71.8 is a meandering stream whichempties into Creek Mile 67.3 (Fig. 7). Beaver damsand natural log jams are common. Bed material ischaracterized by alluvial clay and sand mixed withorganic material (Photo 38). Near the mouth, streamvelocity increases and the stream becomes shallowover a gravel and boulder substrate. Creek Nile 71.8flows through an area dominated by tall white spruceand aspen with riparian birch, willow and alder.Additional physical data are presented in Table 21and water chemistry data are found in Appendix 6.

Sampling sites were established at the proposedcrossing (Location 1) and near the mouth (Location2). Northern pike were observed and captured at bothlocations. A single juvenile grayling was observed atthe highway crossing. Longnose sucker andunidentified cyprinid fry were collected at Location 2.Catch-effort data are given in Table 21 withindividual fish information provided in Appendix 8.

On the basis of information collected it isevident that spawning occurs in Creek Mile 71.8. Itwill be necessary to provide fish passage past thehighway crossing for spring spawners includingArctic grayling and longnose suckers. Refer to page26 for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 35,4 km


BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

29/05/77 1/angling gill net

- -

0 0

12/07/77 1/observeobserveangling

Arctic grayling (I) northern pike (A) -

1 obs1 obs

0

13/07/77 1/gill net northern pike 2

14/07/77 2/dip net dip net angling

longnose suckerunident. cyprinid -

9240


(I) - Immature (A) - Adult obs - observed

MILE 78.1

Creek Mile 78.1 flows in a winding and ill-defined channel into the Netla River (Fig. 8, Photo39). The area is characterized by low gradient (Photo40) and beaver dams are common. Substrate in thelower reaches consists of clay and organic sedimentwith much associated debris (Photo 41). Thevegetation of the area is predominantly a blackspruce-aspen community while white spruce increasein frequency in downstream areas. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 22 and waterchemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling was undertaken at the highwaycrossing (Location 1) and near the mouth (Location2). Immature longnose suckers and Arctic graylingwere captured at Location 1 as well as adult northernpike. Catch-effort data are included in Table 22 withindividual fish information provided in Appendix 8.Results of stomach content analysis are presented inAppendix 10.

On the basis of the 1977 sampling effort, itappears that Creek Mile 78.1 provides both spawningand nursery habitat for longnose suckers and Arcticgrayling as well as feeding habitat for northern pike.Since young-of-the-year fish were captured at theproposed crossing site it is probable that spawningmigrations of longnose suckers and Arctic graylingascend the stream at least that far. Therefore, fishpassage for spring spawners is required. Refer to page26 for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 21.2 km - Downstream of alignment 8.7 kmDischarge (29/07/77) 0.46 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

13/07/77 1/dip net observe angling

Arctic graylingnorthern pike -

11 obs

0

14/07/77 1/dip net gill net

Arctic graylinglongnose suckernorthern pike

1101

obs - observed

16

MILE 82.3

This stream flows within a well-definedchannel into the Netla River (Fig. 8). Tortuousmeanders are prevalent especially in the upperreaches and steep banks are evident at the highwaycrossing. In upstream areas the substrate is composedof a sand-silt mixture with small areas of associatedgravel overlain with much debris. Near the mouth,alluvial material laid down by the Netla and LiardRivers is the main constituent of the stream base(Photo 42). Vegetation is dominated by tremblingaspen and birch with balsam poplar fringing the NetlaRiver. Additional physical data are provided in Table23 and water chemistry data are presented inAppendix 6.

Sampling was undertaken at the crossing(Location 1) and near the mouth (Location 2). Fishspecies captured included juvenile grayling, found inabundance at the crossing, and mature northern piketaken near the mouth. This stream was previouslysampled in the fall of 1976 by F & MS personnel atwhich time 3 slimy sculpins were caught. Catch-effortdata are given in Table 23 and individual fish datacan be found in Appendix 7 (1976) and Appendix 8(1977). Results of stomach content analysis arepresented in Appendices 10 and 14.

On the basis of the number of juvenile graylingcaught, it appears that Creek Mile 82.3 serves as aspawning and nursery area for this species as well asproviding seasonal habitat for at least northern pikeand slimy sculpins. It seems likely that spawningmigrations of Arctic grayling ascend at least as far asthe proposed crossing and therefore fish passage willbe a requirement for construction. Refer to page 26for specific construction recommendations.

Table 23. Creek Mile 82.3. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1976-1977.

PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

21/09/76 2/fry trap slimy sculpin 3


Arctic grayling -

60

01/08/77 2/angling dip net

northern pike 20

MILE 82.6

The main channel of this stream parallels theNetla River for most of its length prior to theirconfluence (Fig. 8). Substrate near the alignmentconsists of gravel and boulders with areas of clayproducing high turbidity conditions. Near the mouth,the bed is made up of alluvial silts littered with debris(Photo 43). Additional physical data are found inTable 24.

Difficulty of access to this creek restrictedsampling activities, however limited sampling wasundertaken at both the crossing (Location 1) and nearthe mouth (Location 2). A single mature Arcticgrayling was captured at Location 1. Catch-effort dataare presented in Table 24 with individual fishinformation included in Appendix 8.

Capture data indicate that this system providessome feeding habitat, the extent of which is notknown. Although the upper reaches were notsampled, it is suspected that their role may be similarto that of adjacent Creek Mile 82.3, in providingspawning and nursery habitat for grayling.Construction activities should be governedaccordingly. Fish passage for spring spawners isrequired. Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 24. Creek Mile 82.6. Summary of physicaland biological data, 1976-1977.

PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


Arctic grayling -

10


- -

00

17

MILE 85.9 (Netla River)

The Netla River flows across an expansive flatregion into the Liard River (Fig. 9). Tortuousmeanders occur throughout the course, but decreasein severity downstream. Below the highwayalignment the river flows in a wide, flooded channelinfluenced by Liard River stage conditions (Photo44). Bed material is composed of course sand, graveland boulders except in the lower reaches where theLiard River deposits alluvium. Additional physicaldata are provided in Table 25 and water chemistrydata are provided in Appendix 6.

Sampling was initiated at the highway crossing(Location 3) and at two upstream sites (Locations 4and 5). Fish species caught include longnose suckers,lake chub, slimy sculpin and trout perch. A total of 23longnose suckers, all in gravid condition, werecaptured on May 29, 1977. This river was previouslysampled at sites above (Location 1) and below(Location 2) the alignment in 1976 by F & MSpersonnel. Longnose dace, northern pike and spottailshiners were caught at that time. Previous studiesconducted by Synergy in 1974 indicated utilization byArctic grayling, lake whitefish and burbot (Synergy1975). The species composition from all sources isgiven in Appendix 16. A 24 hour gill net set in asmall headwater lake on August 3, 1977 caught nofish. Catch-effort data for 1976-77 are given in Table25 with individual fish data included in Appendix 7and Appendix 8. The results of stomach contentanalysis are presented in Appendices 9, 12, 13 and14.

In summary the Netla River provides spawning,nursery, feeding and possibly overwintering habitatfor numerous fish species including both spring andfall spawners. Although overwintering has not beendemonstrated it probably occurs in the lower reachesand upstream where deep pools exist. Fish passagefor both spring and fall spawning fish is required.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 25. Mile 85.9 (Netla River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 1170.7 kmLength of Channel - Upstream of alignment 49.9 km


BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

21/09/76 1/seine trout perchlake chubslimy sculpinlongnose dacelongnose sucker

524723

21/09/76 2/seine trout perchnorthern pikelongnose dacespottail shinerlake chubemerald shiner

1911433

28/05/77 3/seine lake chubslimy sculpin

11

29/05/77 3/gill net longnose sucker 23


longnose suckertrout perchlake chub -

9210

02/08/77 5/(Unnamed Lake)/ gill net

- 0

18

NILE 93.5, 95.0

Creek Mile 93.5 was observed from the air andconsidered to be relatively unimportant to the fishresources of the area (Fig. 10).

Sampling locations were established at thehighway crossing on Creek Mile 95.0 (Location 1)and at a point approximately 4 km downstream of thecrossing (Location 2). Both locations were consideredto be generally unfavourable habitat for fish and nonewere captured or observed.

Both Creek Mile 93.5 and 95.0 are notconsidered important and no restrictions areconsidered necessary. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.


PHYSICAL

Catchment area 2.6 km2a,Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment

7.0 km2b

2.6 kma

2.7 kmb



BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


- 0

2/angling/ dip net

- 0

a Creek Mile 93.5b Creek Mile 95.0

MILE 96.8

This complexly branched system has its sourceon a local height of land and flows northeast over anarea of lower gradient to the Liard River (Fig. 10).Near its confluence with the Liard River a heavydeposition of Liard silts mixed with debris forms thestream base (Photo 45). In upstream areas the streamflows in a series of rapids and pools over a gravel andboulder bottom (Photo 46). Vegetation within thedrainage area consists mainly of white spruce andaspen in a shifting state of dominance. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 27 and waterchemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

Inaccessibility limited sampling to one locationnear the mouth (Location 1) on one date. No fishwere observed or captured (Table 27).

General habitat and flow conditions within thestream appear excellent for fish utilization. As suchguidelines ensuring the protection of feeding andspawning habitat during construction should beimplemented for construction. It is important that anyspring spawning migrations of fish continue to beable to ascend Creek Mile 96.8 past the proposedhighway crossing point. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.


PHYSICAL


Lenght of Channel - Upstream of alignment 14.6 km


BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


- -

0 observed0

19

MILE 99.9 - 100.5

This system consists of two small tributarieswhich originate on a height of land, flow parallelacross a lowland region then join downstream of thealignment to flow into a high water channel of theLiard River (Fig. 10). Both streams, when observed atthe proposed crossings, were not consideredimportant as fish habitat. The mouth area is highlysusceptible to Liard River flooding and alluviumforms the stream bed (Photo 47). Vegetation in thearea is typically a mixed hardwood forestpredominated by tall trembling aspen. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 28.

A single sampling site was established near themouth (Location 1) where a single mature Arcticgrayling was captured by angling. The catch-effortdata are included in Table 28 with the individual fishinformation provided in Appendix 8.

Constraints to highway construction at theproposed crossing site are not considered necessary.Suitable habitat for fish appears to exist only in thelower reaches of this stream system. This habitat issufficiently removed from the crossing point so as notto be deleteriously affected by construction activities.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 28. Creek Mile 99.0 - 100.5. Summary of physical andbiological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL

Catchment area 7.3 km2a Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 4.1 kma

- Downstream of alignment 5.9 kma


BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


Arctic grayling -

10

a Measurements taken directly from 1;50,000topographic maps.

MILE 110.7

This is a small creek with small dischargewhich flows between a series of small pools near thehighway alignment (Fig. 11). Flow is over a silt andboulder substrate near the crossing. In downstreamareas the channel is more well- defined withincreased gradient and flow over a gravel and bouldersubstrate. Additional physical data are provided inTable 29.

Sampling was not initiated on this creek due tothe difficult access but it is suspected that the moutharea may provide favourable habitat for some fish.Constraints to highway construction at the proposedalignment are, however, not considered necessary.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.

Table 29. Creek Mile 110.7. Summary of physicaldata, 1977.

PHYSICAL




20

MILE 113.8

This stream is fast-flowing with a well-definedchannel. A waterfall and series of rapids occurimmediately below the highway alignment (Fig. 11,Photo 48). Substrate near the crossing is composed ofgravel and boulders overlaying a conglomerate rockbase. This rock base surfaces downstream of thehighway alignment creating the waterfall.Downstream areas are characterized by flow overbare rock and boulders with some small gravel areas(Photo 49). Vegetation consists of a mixed hardwoodforest with aspen dominating white spruce except inthe upper reaches where black spruce is increasinglyevident. Additional physical data are provided inTable 30 and water chemistry data are presented inAppendix 6.

Sampling was attempted at the highwaycrossing only (Location 1) but no fish were capturedor observed (Table 30). The waterfall presents acomplete natural obstruction to upstream fishmigrating upstream and there do not appear to be anyareas upstream capable of sustaining largepopulations of resident fish. Conditions below thefalls are not ideally suited for fish spawning due tohigh proportion of bare rock. However fish mayutilize this stretch as a feeding area. No in-streamconstruction should be attempted during the spring.Refer to page 26 for specific constructionrecommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


- -

0 observed0

MILE 115.7

This is a forked creek which has two smallheadwater lakes associated with one of the arms (Fig.11). Small pools are common to both arteries. Goodchannel definition is characteristic of the entirecourse of the stream. Bed material near the alignmentconsists of boulders intersticed with silt in pool areasand gravel and boulders in riffle areas (Photo 50).The mouth is characterized by a series of small rapidsand pools over coarse gravel and large boulders(Photo 51). Mixed hardwood forest, consisting oftrembling aspen interspersed with white sprucedominates the region while birch, willow and alder

are found on the stream banks. Additional physicaldata are provided in Table 31 and water chemistrydata are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling for fish was conducted at thehighway crossing (Location 1) as well as near themouth (Location 2). Mature grayling were present atboth locations (Photo 52) and juvenile were alsocaptured at Location 2. A single longnose sucker atthe crossing and one brook stickleback at the mouthaccount for other fish taken. Catch-effort data arepresented in Table 31 while individual fish data areincluded in Appendix 8. Results of stomach contentanalysis are presented in Appendices band 11. It isimportant to note that an Arctic grayling captured onMay 29, 1977 at the proposed highway crossing hadingested fish eggs. Severe flood conditions werenoted on this creek on June 3, 1977, possiblyresulting in the apparent lack of fry.

Creek Mile 115.7 appears to support arelatively large population of Arctic grayling andhabitat conditions are well-suited to the spawning,nursery and feeding needs of grayling as well as otherspecies. Spawning evidently occurs near the proposedcrossing area by the fish eggs found.

It is important that spring spawning migrationsof fish continue to be able to ascend Creek Mile115.7 past the proposed highway crossing point. Thisstream is probably critical to the viability of local fishpopulations. Refer to page 26 for specificconstruction recommendations.

Table 31. Creek Mile 115.7. Summary of physicalbiological data, 1977.

PHYSICAL



- Downstream of alignment 1.9 kmDischarge (29/07/77)a 0.54 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

29/05/77 1/gill net1/angling

Arctic grayling -

10

06/07/77 1/angling gill net dip net2/angling gill net dip net

Arctic graylingArctic grayling -Arctic graylingArctic grayling -

530510

07/07/77 1/gill net gill net fry trap

Arctic graylinglongnose suckerbrook stickleback

911


21

MILE 117.5 (Rabbit Creek)

Rabbit Creek is a major drainage system fed bynumerous small tributaries (Fig. 12). It flows within atwisted, well-defined channel with steep banks in thelower reaches. Shale cliffs border the creek near theproposed crossing and detrital shale is an importantcomponent of the stream bed at this location as areboulders and gravel (Photo 53). Downstream thesubstrate is predominantly alluvial silt (Photo 54).Vegetation is comprised of mixed hardwoods withaspen dominating white spruce. Near the mouthbalsam poplar and willow prevail. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 32 and waterchemistry are presented in Appendix 6.

Rabbit Creek was initially sampled by F & MSin September 1976 at which time 5 northern pikewere caught at the mouth (Location 2). Samplingduring 1977 was restricted to the crossing area(Location 1) where mature and juvenile Arcticgrayling, and longnose sucker were captured.Synergy (1975) reported slimy sculpin also present inthe stream. Catch-effort data from 1976 and 1977 aregiven in Table 32 with individual fish informationincluded in Appendices 7 and 8. Results of stomachcontent analysis are presented in Appendix 11.Species composition from all sources is included inAppendix 16.

As with Creek Mile 115.7, the relative absenceof fry found in Rabbit Creek may be due to thetorrential flood conditions existing in early June. Thecreek provides excellent spawning substrate and idealnursery and feeding habitat in the alternating poolsand riffles.

As with Creek Mile 115.7 it is essential thatspring spawning migrations of fish continue to beable to ascend Rabbit Creek past the proposedhighway crossing. Rabbit Creek is larger than CreekMile 115.7 and as such is probably the mostimportant stream in the general area, providingexcellent habitat for a variety of fish species. Refer topage 26 for specific construction recommendations.

Table 32. Mile 117.5 (Rabbit Creek). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1976-1977.

PHYSICAL



- Downstream of alignment 3.2 kmDischarge (29/07/77)a 1.23 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


28/05/77 1/seine - 0

29/05/77 1/gill net angling

- -

00

06/07/77 1/gill net 1/gill net 1/angling1/observe dip net

Arctic graylinglongnose suckerArctic graylingArctic grayling(A) -

114

2 observed0

07/07/77 1/fry trap gill net dip net angling

-Arctic graylingArctic grayling -

0110

(A) Adulta Continuous stage recorder installed, refer to Appendix 5.

22

MILE 121.1

This branched stream drains several small lakesand marsh areas then flows in a well-defined channelto its confluence with the Liard River (Fig. 12). Atthe highway crossing, Creek Mile 121.1 flows in aseries of pools and rapids over a gravel and bouldersubstrate. Near the mouth, it flows over a substrate oflarge boulders with interstitial gravel and is containedwithin high steep banks Photos 55 & 56). Allheadwater lakes were observed to be shallow and arenot considered capable of overwintering fish.Vegetation in the area is a mixed hardwoodcommunity consisting of aspen and birch withoccasional tall stands of white spruce. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 33 and waterchemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling locations were established at both thecrossing site (Location 1) and near the mouth(Location 2). Fish species captured include Arcticgrayling and longnose sucker. While only onegrayling fry was caught many more were observed.Catch-effort data are included in Table 33 withindividual fish information supplied in Appendix 8.Results of stomach content analysis are presented inAppendices 10 and 11. This stream was alsoinvestigated by Synergy in 1974 at which time lakechubs, longnose suckers and white suckers werecaught. Species composition from all sources is givenin Appendix 16.

The availability of spawning material, stablewater flow regime, and suitability of pool and rifflehabitat for Arctic grayling and other species indicatea high spawning potential for Creek Mile121.1. It is important that spring spawning migrationscontinue to be able to ascend this stream past theproposed highway crossing to reach spawning areasevidently available in upstream areas. Refer to page26 for specific recommendations.


PHYSICAL

Catchment area 26.9 km2 Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 5.8 km - Downstream of alignment 3.5 kmDischarge (29/07/77) 0.22 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

15/07/77 1/dip net 1/observe

Arctic graylingArctic grayling(I)

1num. obs.

2/angling2/observe

Arctic graylingArctic grayling(A)

16 obs.

19/07/77 1/gill net gill net fry trap fry trap observe angling/ dip net

Arctic graylinglongnose. sucker - -Arctic grayling(I) -

5200

2 obs.0

(I) Immature (A) Adultnum. obs. - numerous observed

MILE 124.3

Although physiographical differences existbetween the upper and lower reaches of this stream, itmaintains a well-defined channel throughout itscourse (Fig.12). From a series of small headwaterlakes, Creek Mile 124.3 progresses through an openfen area containing many small ponds (Photo 57).Near the Liard River, the stream deeply incisesunderlying till deposits which form steep banks andsheer cliffs along the stream channel. Cliffs occurparticularly where shale deposits have been breached.Stream bed material can be classified as silt andorganic material in the upper reaches, course gravel,boulders and detrital shale near the alignment andlarge boulders and course gravel near the mouth(Photos 59 & 60). Upstream areas progress from ablack spruce-aspen to a black-spruce-sedgecommunity while the vegetative covering in lowerreaches is an upland and hardwood community,predominantly aspen. Additional physical data arepresented in Table 34 and water chemistry data areprovided in Appendix 6.

Sampling locations were established at thehighway crossing (Location 1) and near the mouth(Location 2). Mature Arctic grayling were present atboth locations (Photo 61) and no other species wereobserved. Catch-effort data are given in Table 34 andindividual fish data are included in Appendix 8.Results of stomach content analysis are found inAppendix 11.

Creek Mile 124.3 contains ideal habitat for thespawning and feeding of Arctic grayling. Severeflooding probably occurred during June of 1977 withpossible deleterious effects on spawn. It is probablethat spring spawning migrations ascend past thehighway crossing of this stream. Fish passagefacilities are necessary. Refer to page 26 for specificrecommendations.


PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

07/07/77 2/angling Arctic grayling 4 observe Arctic grayling(A) num. obs. dip net - 0


- 0

20/07/77 1/gill net angling/ dip net

Arctic grayling -

30

(A) Adultnum. obs - numerous observed

23

MILE 129.3 (Muskeg River)

The Muskeg River is the largest watercourse tobe crossed by the proposed highway in our surveyarea (Fig. 13). This river and its major tributaries,including the Arrowhead River, drain a local heightof land separating the Trout Lake and Muskegdrainage systems. Meanders are infrequent upstreamof the confluence with the Arrowhead River.However, lower reaches are characterized by largemeanders and oxbow lakes as gradient decreases.Headwater lakes are numerous and are usually smalland shallow containing emergent vegetation. Onenotable exception is Bovie Lake, an oligotrophic lakeapproximately 30 km southeast of Fort Liard.Substrate along much of the course consists of graveland boulders except near the mouth where LiardRiver alluvium forms the base. Additional physicaldata are provided in Table 35 and water chemistrydata are presented in Appendix 6.

Sampling by F & MS personnel was conductedin the autumn of 1976 at the proposed crossing(Location 1). The fish species captured were trout-perch, lake chub, northern pike, and longnose dace.In 1977 the highway crossing was again sampled aswell as a location upstream of the Arrowhead Riverconfluence (Location 2). Additions to the species listfrom this sampling effort include longnose sucker,and slimy sculpin. Catch- effort data for 1976-77 arepresented in Table 35 while individual fish data areincluded in Appendices 7 and 8. Gill netting wasconducted in Bovie Lake (Location 4) and anothersmall lake (Location 3). White and longnose suckerswere captured at Location 3 while Bovie Lakeyielded yellow walleye, humpback whitefish andwhite sucker (Appendix 15). Information provided onthe Land Use Information Map Series (Canada,D.I.N.A., 1976) indicates that northern pike are alsocaught in Bovie Lake. This lake provides animportant domestic fish source for residents of FortLiard. Previous sampling of the Muskeg River bySynergy in 1974 produced fish species in commonwith this study. Species composition from all sourcesis given in Appendix 16.

The Muskeg River is known to provide suitablespawning, nursery and feeding habitat for a variety offish species. Overwintering definitely occurs in someheadwater lakes and is probably possible in someparts of the Muskeg River. Although th~ extent ofspawning migrations is unknown it is probablysubstantial at the proposed crossing, including bothspring and fall spawning species. Fish passage isrequired at the proposed highway crossing. Refer topage 26 for specific construction recommendations.

Table 35. Mile 129.3 (Muskeg River). Summary ofphysical and biological data, 1976-1977.

PHYSICAL




BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured

21/09/76 1/seine lake chubtrout perchnorthern pikelongnose dace

193531

28/05/77 1/seine slimy sculpinlongnose suckerlake chub

11

41

9/05/77 1/gill net angling

- -

00

03/08/77 3/seine lake chublongnose suckerlongnose daceunident. cyprinid

32028

03/08/77 3/gill net (unnamed lake)

white sucker longnose sucker

201

03/08/77 4/gill net (Bovie Lake)

humpback whitefishyellow walleyewhite sucker

9186

24

Mile 135.0

This is a small well-defined creek which flowsinto a small lake downstream of the alignment (Fig.14, Photo 62). A single outflow from the lake flowsin an indistinct channel to the Liard River. Beaverdams and debris are a widespread feature along thecourse. Substrate in all areas appeared to consist ofsilt and organic material. Vegetation in the areaconsisted of an aspen-birch community with somewhite spruce along the stream banks. Additionalwater chemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

A single sampling station was establishedapproximately 1 km upstream of the proposedhighway crossing (Location 1). No fish were capturedor observed (Table 36).

On the basis of the study, the system appears tobe relatively unimportant to the fish resources of thearea. As such no restrictions on construction at theproposed crossing are considered necessary. Refer topage 26 for specific construction recommendations.


PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 4.8 km a

- Downstream of alignment 6.8 km a

Discharge (29/07/77) 0.04 m3/sec

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


- -

00

a Measurements taken directly from 1:50,000topographic maps.

Mile 135.4

This creek flows in a well-defined channel,with alternating small riffle areas and pools, into theLiard River (Fig. 14). Substrate consists of gravel andboulders alternating with areas of organic material.Vegetation is a typical mixed hardwood communitycomposed predominantly of aspen. Additionalphysical data are provided in Table 37 and waterchemistry data are presented in Appendix 6.

A single sampling station was established at alocation downstream of the highway alignment(Location 1). Although Creek Nile 135.4 appeared toprovide suitable habitat, no fish were captured orobserved (Table 37).

Creek Mile 135.4 has already been affected byconstruction of an airstrip near Fort Liard (Photo 63).Possible impacts produced by this activity areundetermined. The crossing of the Liard Highwayalong the proposed alignment will not have asignificant impact on fish resources which may existin downstream areas. No restrictions on constructionare considered necessary. Refer to page 26 forspecific construction recommendations.

Table 37. Creek Mile 135.4. Summary of physicaland biological data,1977.

PHYSICAL


Length of Channel - Upstream of alignment 2.0 km a

- Downstream of alignment 5.9 km a Discharge - not measured

BIOLOGICAL

Date

Location/ Method

Species

No.Captured


- -

00

a Measurements taken directly from 1:50,000 topographic maps.

Mile 142.5, 147.7, 148.6, 150.3, 152.3, 153.5

In the section of the proposed highway betweenthe Fort Liard access road and the B.C. border theabove streams were observed from the air (Fig. 14).The streams characteristically develop on the flatplateau adjacent to the Petitot River, then descendabruptly, incising deep valleys to their confluencewith the Petitot. Gradient is low in upper reaches(Photos 64 &65) and very steep with numerous rapidsand falls over debris jams in the lower section (Photo66). The stream channels near the Petitot Riverconfluence are characterized by large boulders withfrequent log jams and strewn debris (Photos 67, 68,69, 70, 71 & 72) indicative of torrential flooding.

All streams were observed from the air on July19-20, 1977. Observations were made at the mouthand upstream locations. No suitable fish habitat couldbe discerned from these observations. It is notconsidered probable that any spawning migrations offish utilize these streams as far upstream as thehighway crossing. No restrictions to constructionactivities are therefore considered necessary.

25

DISCUSSION

Small streams i.e. generally those with drainageareas between 10 and 250 km2 are considered by theauthors to be particularly susceptible to the adverseeffects of Liard Highway construction since:

1) There is difficulty in predicting flows fordrainage areas of this size.

In many cases there is little recorded flow datafor streams destined for culvert installations anddesign flow estimates are usually based on data formuch larger drainage basins or empirical methods.These are often not accurate.

2) In many small basins, the peak annual flood(though not necessarily the design flood) normallyoccurs during spring snow-melt when ice and snoware still present within stream channels (Jasper andAnderson, 1977).

Consideration must be given to the amounts ofchannel ice present during spring floods, as well as tothe magnitude of flood peaks, since culverts,especially, can be expected to contain ice.

3) Increased sediment loads in streams andrivers resulting from terrain disturbance will beproportional to the land area disturbed bytechnological activities (Brunskill et al. 1975).

Small streams and rivers will be much moreaffected by terrain disturbance than larger rivers sinceconstruction will affect a larger proportion ofdrainage area.

4) Culverts are commonly used for crossingstreams of this magnitude and a number of problemsare inherent in their use.

Normal culvert design practice reduces cross-sectional area, tending to increase the velocity of flowwithin the culvert often to levels which prevent thepassage of migrating fish. Not only do culvertsgenerally increase overall velocity but they alsodecrease the bed roughness and therefore theavailability of resting areas for migrating fish. Giventhe latter, culvert length is an important consideration.

Culverts can aggravate river icings by shieldingthe channel from snow cover and direct solarradiation thus altering the thermal regime at thechannel surface. Culverts are more prone to icingsthan bridges due to the heat transfer characteristics ofsteel.

Entrapment of debris within culverts can causeupstream ponding and possible overtopping of theroadbed.

The requirements for bridges on particularstreams along the Liard Highway, as recommended inthis report, are based on the following:

1) the importance of maintaining naturalstream conditions.

This factor is a reflection of the importancewhich the authors attach to each stream as amigration route and spawning area for fish.

2) the nature of the hydrograph for largerstreams is such that the velocity criteria and seven-day delay in a 1:50 year flood become critical factorsin design.

The hydrograph for larger basins is generallyflatter and does not rise and fall as quickly as that forsmaller basins.

3) the amount of fill and hence length ofculverts are critical as well as the velocity criteria.

It will be difficult to achieve fish passagecriteria for larger streams with the use of culverts.Bridges which will maintain stream conditions are thealternative.

Hydrological data along the proposed LiardHighway route are almost non-existent. The onus ison the highway developer to collect sufficienthydrological and meteorological data in earlyplanning stages so that design flows can be predictedwith a reasonable degree of confidence.

Adequate safeguards for the protection of fishresources along a highway route such as the LiardHighway are dependent upon accurate design data.Fish passage criteria are based on accurate floodpredictions. The decision as to whether culverts orbridges are required for individual crossings Is basedon design data, the ability of a given structure to meetfish passage guidelines If required, economics andsound engineering.

The most serious consequence of under-designis the complete washout of a highway crossing. Aroad washout, besides disrupting transportation andimposing an economic penalty, also adds a massiveamount of debris and silt to the river system. Thismaterial may have disastrous effects on fish habitat indownstream areas. Use of the Water Planning andManagement design curve to design Liard Highwaystream crossings has serious shortcomings asIndicated by hydrological studies jointly undertakenin 1977, by the Resource Impact Division of Fisheriesand Marine Service and the Glaciology Division ofthe Inland Waters Directorate. Hydrologicalinformation, in order to be used with any degree ofconfidence for design purposes must be collectedover a number of years. Time for collection of thistype of information was available to the LiardHighway planners and inadequacies of the existingdata base were known but no attempts were made tohave studies done until construction was imminent.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on existing guidelines (Dryden and Stein1975) and results from the present study, design andconstruction recommendations are presented which,in the opinion of the authors, are necessary If fishresources and habitats are to be adequately protectedfrom the adverse effects of Liard Highwayconstruction.

For the purposes of Liard Highwayconstruction, the term “fish migration discharge” willmean the maximum discharge allowing fish totraverse a stream crossing. More specifically, the fishmigration discharge for the culvert crossings ofstreams with flat and intermediate drainage basins,along the Liard Highway, may be taken as the meanannual flood (1:2.33 years recurrence interval).

Three possible approaches may be taken inspecific stream crossings where fish passage isrequired.

26

1. Use plain pipe(s) and ensure that meanvelocities through any culvert cross-section areless than 0.9 in/s (3 ft/s) at or below the fishmigration discharge; concentrate low flows andsecure at least 20 cm (8”) of water through theculvert(s).

2. Maintain natural stream properties at thecrossing (i.e. average cross-section, width,slope, substrate) for flows up to the fishmigration discharge, concentrate low flows, andprovide within the culvert(s) a rock substrate,stable at the 1:50 year flood.

3. Design and install baffles within the culvert(s)that operate effectively at or below the fishmigration discharge, and secure at least 20 cm(8”) of water through the culvert(s) during lowflows.

In all three approaches allow no upstreamponding for the 1:50 year flood, avoid any significantdrawdown at the inlet, outlet or within the culvert(s)and provide adequate freeboard.

Streams can be grouped as follows:

Group I

Criteria:1) no instream construction May 1-June 15.2) no instream construction September 1-

November 15.3) no alterations of existing natural stream-

bed.4) gravel removal operations limited to areas

above the design flood high water stage and no closerthan 91.4 m (300’) from any active river channel.

Streams affected: Mile 21.5 (Poplar River) Mile 32.5 (Birch River) Mile 67.0 (Blackstone River) Mile 67.3 (Unnamed River) Mile 85.9 (Netla River) Mile 117.7 (Rabbit Creek) Mile 129.3 (Muskeg River)

For each of the above streams, a bridgecrossing design is recommended in order toadequately protect fish populations in the area. Alarge number of both spring and fall spawning fishspecies have been captured from these systems or aresuspected to occur. The authors attach importance tothese streams as probable major migration routes andspawning areas for fish.

Group II

Criteria:1) no instream construction Nay 1-June 15.2) no instream construction September 1-

November 15.3) fish passage is required for both spring and

fall spawning fish species.4) gravel removal operations limited to areas

above the design flood highwater stage and no closerthan 91.4 m (300’) from any active river channel.

Streams affected: Creek Mile 50.7 Creek Mile 51.9

Both spring and fall spawning species of fishwere captured near the junction of these streams. Inaddition, two species of spring spawning fishappeared to be utilizing spawning areas near theproposed alignment. It is considered likely that bothspring and fall migrations of spawning fish arecapable of ascending these two streams at least as faras the highway alignment.

Group III

Criteria:1) no instream construction May 1-June 15.2) fish passage is required for spring spawning

fish species.3) gravel removal operations limited to areas


Streams affected: Creek Mile 8.0 Creek Mile 38.5 Creek Mile 43.8 Creek Mile 45.9 Creek Mile 48.8 Creek Mile 49.9 Creek Mile 59.3 Creek Mile 63.0 Creek Mile 63.7 Creek Mile 66.0 Creek Mile 71.8 Creek Mile 78.1 Creek Mile 82.3 Creek Mile 82.6 Creek Mile 96.8 Creek Mile 115.7 Creek Mile 121.1 Creek Mile 124.3

For all the above streams it is consideredprobable that spring spawning migrations ascend atleast as far as the proposed crossing in order to reachspawning areas. No evidence of fall spawning fishinhabiting these systems was found.

Group IV

Criteria:1) no instream construction May 1-June 15.2) gravel removal operations limited to areas


Streams affected: Creek Mile 14.1 Creek Mile 29.8 Creek Mile 39.6 Creek Mile 39.9 Creek Mile 40.9 Creek Mile 41.5 Creek Mile 113.8

Spawning migrations of fish probably do notascend these tributaries as far as the proposedcrossing. However, suitable habitat exists indownstream areas which could be adversely affectedby spring construction. Culverts must be suitablydesigned to pass expected flows without causingerosion.

Group V

Criteria:1) no specific guidelines for construction are

required.

Streams affected: Any stream not included in any of the above

categories and crossed by the proposed LiardHighway along its present alignment fall underCategory V.

27

For all streams listed in Groups I, II, III, and IVabove the following precautions should be adhered toduring construction and operation of the proposedhighway (Dryden and Stein 1975).

1) Clearing

All cut or cleared terrain within an area thatslopes towards a waterbody must be considered as aprobable source of siltation. Right-of-way clearingmust be discontinued a minimum of 91.4 m (300’)from the design flood highwater mark, until just priorto commencement of permanent river crossingstructures. On slopes that exceed 1 In 3, the clearingmust be stopped at the beginning of the downslope.

2) Revegetation and slope stabilization

All disturbed areas within the influence of awaterbody must be left in a stabilized condition.Slopes must be stabilized in a manner appropriate forthe soils, vegetation and ice content encountered, andbe protected with vegetation cover and/ or rip-rap asrequired.

3) Drainage

Highway drainage must be designed so thatsediment-laden runoff does not enter lakes or flowingstreams.

4) Silt Retention

Temporary weirs or cofferdams shall beconstructed, as required, at all in-channel constructionsites involving flowing water in order to form settlingbasins for the control of siltation. Settling basins shallbe maintained and cleared regularly of silt, sand anddebris. All temporary structures shall be removed andthe area returned to the natural condition uponcompletion of the work.

5) Culvert Steaming

Periodic inspections of all culvert installationsshould be conducted prior to and during spring break-up. Culverts found to be blocked by debris or in-culvert icing should be cleared.

6) Disposal of Excavated and Slash Material

All debris from clearing or constructionoperations shall be removed from the stream andadjacent stream area and be disposed of throughburning, chipping or other agreed upon methods, orplaced in such a manner that it cannot enter thestream. High ice-content waste should be compactedand covered with some form of insulating material.The disposal areas for this type of material must belocated well away from any stream or waterbody.

7) Construction Materials

Temporary snow or ice stream crossings mayrequire the use of limbed logs as reinforcementmaterial. Brush, dirt or other debris should not beincluded.

Precautions must be taken to see that no freshcement, lime or concrete is allowed to enter flowingstreams. Any water containing these materials or

other toxicants is not to be pumped, diverted orwashed back into the stream.

Fuel storage areas must be diked and locatedaway from the influence with waterbodies.

8) Timing of Construction

In all cases where fish habitat may be affectedby highway construction activities (Groups I, II, IIIand IV above), disturbance should, where possible,be restricted to the premelt period. High spring flowsare usually capable of removing and dispensing of anincreased sediment supply which would otherwise beleft in situ by lesser floods during the summer.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank Mr. J. N. Stein.Division Head, Resource Impact Division, Fisheriesand Marine Service, Winnipeg, for his supervisionand guidance.

We are indebted to Mr. V. MacRoberts,Fisheries Officer, who provided valuable support atFort Simpson, N.W.T. Assistance in the collection ofhydrological data and its interpretation was providedby J. Jasper and B. Grey of the Arctic HydrologySection, Inland Waters Directorate, D.F.E. We areespecially grateful to Mssrs. B. Kemper, R. Quinlan,and J. Steele of the Canadian Wildlife Service, D.F.E.for their co-operation in our field work. B. Reilly andB, Ross of Okanagan Helicopters in Fort Simpsonwent out of their way to aid us in our work and wereextremely competent pilots.

We gratefully acknowledge the field assistanceprovided by P. Robinson and M. Minchau withoutwhose enthusiasm much of our data collection wouldnot have not have been possible. The sorting andidentification of fish stomach contents and assistancein the preparation of this report was provided by B.Sutherland in Winnipeg. Critical review of themanuscript was provided by Mr. J. N. Stein, Mr. J. S.Loch and Mr. R. F. Peet among others.

REFERENCES

BRUNSKILL, G.J., P. CAMPBELL, S.E. ELLIOTT,B.W. GRAHAM, J. DENTRY and R.WAGEMANN. 1975. The chemistry,mineralogy and rates of transport of sediment inthe Mackenzie and Porcupine watersheds,N.W.T. and Yukon, 1971-1973. Can. Fish.Mar. Serv. Tech. Rep. 546: 63 p.

CANADA DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN ANDNORTHERN AFFAIRS. 1976. Land UseInformation Series, Map Fort Liard 95B. Dept.Environ. Lands Direct. Ottawa.

DRYDEN, R.L. and J.N. STEIN. 1975. Guidelinesfor the protection of the fish resources of theNorthwest Territories during highwayconstruction and operation. Can. Fish. Mar.Serv. Tech. Rep. Serv. CEN/T-75-1: 32 p.

DRYDEN, R.L., B.G. SUTHERLAND and J.N.STEIN. 1973. An evaluation of the fishresources of the Mackenzie River Valley asrelated to Pipeline Development Vol. II. Can.Environ. Soc. Comm. North. Pipelines, TaskForce on North. Oil Dev., Rep.73-2: 176 p.

28

FENCO (Foundation of Canada EngineeringCorporation Limited). 1974. Hydrology study,Mackenzie Highway. Report commissioned byCan. Dept. Public Works. FENCO, Ste. 210,731-51st Ave., Edmonton, Alberta. T6E 4W8.41 p. & app.

GREY, B.J. and J.N. JASPER. 1978. Hydrologicstudies along the Liard Highway, spring and summer, 1977; A progress report. Rep. for the Northern Roads Environmental Working Group, Dept. Ind. Aff. North. Dev. Can. Fish. Environ. Inl. Waters Direct. Ottawa, Ontario. K1A 0E7. 18 p. & 2 figs.

HATFIELD, C.T., J.N. STEIN. M.R. FALK, C.S.JESSOP, and D.N. SHEPHERD. 1972. Fishresources of the Mackenzie River Valley.Environ. Can. Fish. Serv. Interim Rep. Vol. II:287 p.

JASPER, J.N. and J.C. ANDERSON. 1977. Anassessment of hydrologic design at streamcrossings on the Mackenzie Highway. Rep, forthe Hydraulic Design Assessment Comm.Environmental Working Group, MackenzieHighway. Can. Fish. Environ. Inl. WatersDirect. Ottawa, Ontario. K1A 0E7. 75 p. & app.

JESSOP, C.S., T.J. CHANG-KUE, J.W. LILLEYand R.J. PERCY. 1974. A further evaluation ofthe fish resources of the Mackenzie RiverValley as related to pipeline development. TaskForce North. Oil. Dev. Environ. Soc. Comm.Rep. 74-7:95 p.

McKINNON, G.A., B.G. SUTHERLAND and P.R.ROBINSON. 1978. Preliminary data on theaquatic resources of three Mackenzie Rivertributaries to be crossed during highwayconstruction, 1975-76. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv.MS Rep. 1481: v + 32 p.

McPHAIL, J.D. and C.C. LINDSEY. 1970.Freshwater fishes of Northwestern Canada andAlaska. Fish. Res. Board Can. Bull. 173: 381 p.

PORTER, T.R. 1973. Fry emergence trap andholding box, Prog. Fish. Cult. 35: 104-106.

ROSENBERG, D.M. and N.B. SNOW. 1975.Ecological studies of aquatic organisms in theMackenzie and Porcupine River drainages inrelation to sedimentation. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv.Tech. Rep. 547: 86 p.

SLANEY, F.F. , AND COMPANY LIMITED. 1974.Fish study 1972-73. Mackenzie Highway Mile300 to 550, Part I and II, Base Data Vol. 3.Report commissioned by Can. Dept. PublicWorks. F.F. Slaney and Company Limited, 402West Pender Street, Vancouver, BritishColumbia. 386 p. & app.

STAINTON, N.P., N.J. CAPEL and F.A.J.ARMSTRONG. 1974. The chemical analysisof fresh water. Can. Fish. Mar. Serv. Misc.Spec. Publ. 25: 119 p.

SYNERGY WEST LTD. 1975. Liard HighwayStudy Rep. commissioned by Can. Dept. PublicWorks, West. Reg. Synergy West Ltd., 4515Bow Trail, S.W., Calgary, Alberta. T3C 2G3.179 p.

UNIES LTD. 1974. Report on Fort Simpson-FortLiard Highway stream crossings. 2 Vol. Rep. commissioned by Can. Dept. Public Works. UNIES Ltd., 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba. R3H OH1. 168 p. & map; 416 p.

1975. Report on Fort Liard stream crossings-Mile 130 to British Columbia border and Fort Liard branch route. Rep. commissioned by Can. Dept. Public Works. UNIES Ltd., 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba. R3H 0H1. 144 p. & 3 maps.

WATER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENTBRANCH. 1975. Mackenzie Highway project,tentative guidelines for culvert design. Environ. Inl. Waters Direct. Eng. Div. 17 p.

44

Photo 1. Creek Mile 8.0. August 5, 1977. Liard Highway crossing - note well-definedchannel.

Photo 2. Creek Mile 8.0. July 30, 1977. Pools created by beaver dams, common in areasdownstream of the highway crossing.

Photo 3. Creek Mile 8.0. July 30, 1977. Boulder and gravel substrate, typical of the regionnear the mouth.

Photo 4. Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977. Liard Highway crossing and borrow pit.

Photo 5. Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977. High cliffs, characteristic of the area immediatelyupstream of the mouth.

Photo 6. Creek Mile 14.1. July 30, 1977. Boulder and gravel substrate, typical of the regionnear the mouth.

Photo 7. Poplar River. May 13, 1974. Boulder and gravel substrate and culvert installation.

46

Photo 8. Poplar River. August 5, 1977. High banks, characteristic of reaches close theLiard River.

Photo 9. Creek Mile 29.8. July 8, 1977. Soft substrate covered with rooted vegetation.

Photo 10. Birch River. July 8, 1977. Gravel and boulder substrate.

Photo 11. Birch River. July 8, 1977. Gill net set downstream of the proposed highwaycrossing.

Photo 12. Creek Mile 36.1. July 5, 1977. Ill-defined channel through muskeg terraindominated by black spruce.

Photo 13. Creek Mile 38.5. July 5, 1977. Flow in an erratically wandering channel dotted bymany small pools.

Photo 14. Creek Mile 38.5. July 8, 1977. Small area of gravel and boulders near the highwaycrossing site.

48

Photo 15. Creek Mile 38.5. July 12, 1977. Birch, willow and alder border the stream in someareas (Location 2).

Photo 16. Creek Mile 39.9. July 12, 1977. Terrain of low gradient accounts for indistinctdrainage pattern.

Photo 17. Creek Mile 42.8. July 5, 1977. Bed material, consisting of a combination oforganic and coarse gravel boulder materials.

Photo 18. Creek Mile 42.8. July 5, 1977. Angling at Location 1.

Photo 19. Creek Mile 43.8. July 7, 1977. Braided channel dotted by small pools and beaverimpoundments (Location 1).

Photo 20. Creek Mile 43.8. May 29, 1977. Longnose suckers in sexually ripe condition.

Photo 21. Creek Mile 45.9. July 11, 1977. Substrate, comprised mainly of silt and organic debris.

50

Photo 22. Creek Mile 48.9. July 9, 1977. A small stream with low gradient but good channeldefinition.

Photo 23. Creek Mile 49.9. July 11, 1977. Coarse gravel and boulder substrate, intersticedby alluvial material.

Photo 24. Creek Mile 48.9. July 11, 1977. Arctic grayling and longnose suckers caught atLocation 1 by gill net.

Photo 25. Creek Mile 48.9. July 11,, 1977. Arctic grayling, brook stickleback, finescale daceand longnose sucker caught in fry trap at Location 1.

Photo 26. Creek Mile 51.9. July 5, 1977. Beaver dams located at proposed highway crossing(Location 1).

Photo 27. Creek Mile 50.7. July 11, 1977. Meandering channel with beaver damdownstream of the proposed highway crossing.

Photo 28. Creek Mile 50.7. July 30, 1977. Substrate composed of organic-rich silt.

52

Photo 29. Creek Mile 50.7. July 30, 1977. A juvenile Arctic grayling at Location 1.

Photo 30. Creek Mile 59.3. July 5, 1977. Well-defined channel with a gravel-bouldersubstrate near the proposed highway alignment (Location 1).

Photo 31. Creek Mile 59.3. May 29, 1977. Mature Arctic grayling captured at Location 1.

Photos Creek Mile 63.0. July 12, 1977. Substrate near the crossing, composed of areas32&33. of boulder and gravel alternating with a sand silt mixture.

Photo 34. Creek Mile 66.0. July 12, 1977. Deposition of alluvial materials near mouth.

54

Photo 35. Blackstone River. June 15, 1972. Meanders near proposed highway crossing.

Photo 36. Creek Mile 67.3. July 14, 1977. Single meandering channel with alternating rifflesand pools.

Photo 37. Creek Mile 67.3. July 14, 1977. Bed material consisting of gravel and boulders atconfluence with Creek Mile 71.8 (Location 2).

Photo 38. Creek Mile 71.8. July 12, 1977. Bed material characterized by alluvial clay andsand mixed with organic material near the proposed highway crossing (Location1).

Photo 39. Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977. Flow in a winding and ill-defined channel into theNetla River.

Photo 40. Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977. Gradient is low in areas downstream of theproposed highway Crossing.

Photo 41. Creek Mile 78.1. July 13, 1977. Substrate consisting of clay and organic sedimentwith much associated debris (Location 1).

56

Photo 42. Creek Mile 82.3. August 1, 1977. Stream base near the mouth consisting mainlyof alluvial material (Location 2).

Photo 43. Creek Mile 82.6. August 1, 1977. Stream bed made up of alluvial silts litteredwith debris (Location 2).

Photo 44. Netla River. July 13, 1977. At confluence with Creek Mile 78.1, a wide floodedchannel influenced by Liard River stage conditions.

Photo 45. Creek Mile 96.8. August 1, 1977. A heavy deposition of Liard silts mixed withdebris forms the stream base near the mouth (Location 1).

Photo 46. Creek Mile 96.8. August 1, 1977. Flow in a series of rapids and pools over agravel and boulder bottom upstream from the mouth.

Photo 47. Creek Mile 99.9-100.5. July 15, 1977. Liard River alluvium forms the stream bednear the mouth (Location 1).

58

Photo 48. Creek Mile 113.8. July 20, 1977. Waterfall downstream of the proposed highwaycrossing.

Photo 49. Creek Mile 113.8. July 20, 1977. Downstream areas characterized by flow overbare rock and boulders with some small gravel areas.

Photo 50. Creek Mile 115.7. July 6, 1977. Bed material near the highway alignment,consisting of boulders intersticed with silt in pool areas and gravel and boulders inriffle areas.

Photo 51. Creek Mile 115.7. July 6, 1977. Mouth area characterized by a series of smallrapids and pools over coarse gravel and large boulders (Location 2).

Photo 52. Creek Mile 115.7. May 29, 1977. Mature Arctic grayling captured at Location 1.

Photo 53. Rabbit Creek. July 6, 1977. Boulder and gravel substrate near the proposedhighway crossing (Location 1).

Photo 54. Rabbit Creek. July 6, 1977. Confluence with the Liard River (Location 2).

60

Photo 55. Creek Mile 121.1. July 19, 1977. Near the mouth, flow is over a substrate of largeboulders and gravel contained within high steep banks.

Photo 56. Creek Mile 121.1. July 19, 1977. Typical vegetative cover and boulder substrate atLocation 2.

Photo 57. Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977. Open fen area and small headwater lakesupstream of proposed highway crossing.

Photo 58. Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977. Area upstream of the proposed highwaycrossing.

Photos Creek Mile 124.3. July 5, 1977. Large boulder and course gravel substrate59&60 near the mouth (Location 2).

Photo 61. Creek Mile 124.3. July 20, 1977. Mature female Arctic grayling captured atLocation 1.

62

Photo 62. Creek Mile 135.0. July 20, 1977. Well-defined channel downstream of theproposed highway crossing.

Photo 63. Creek Mile 135.4. July 20, 1977. Construction of airstrip near Fort Liard.

Photo 64. Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977. Upstream area, characterized by low gradient.

Photo 65. Creek Mile 147.7. July 19, 1977. Headwater lake on flat plateau.

Photo 66. Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977. Lower section of the stream characterized bysteep gradient with numerous rapids and falls over debris jams.

Photo 67. Creek Mile 142.5. July 20, 1977. Stream channel near the Petitot Riverconfluence, characterized by large boulders with frequent log jams and strewndebris.

64

Photo 68. Creek Mile 142.5. July 19, 1977. Stream channel near the Petitot Riverconfluence.

Photo 69. Creek Mile 147.7. July 19, 1977. Confluence with Petitot River - note turbidity.

Photos Petitot River. July 19, 1977. Canyon walls.70&71

Photo 72. Petitot River. July 19, 1977. Confluence with Creek Mile 142.5.

Photo 73. Liard River. July 14, 1977. Liard River valley taken from Nahanni Butte.

Photo 74. Liard River. July 30, 1977. CF-HTR on sandbar with Nahanni Butte in thebackground.

71

Appendix 6. detailed water chemistry of selected Liard Highway streams.

Stream Mileages

Parameter 8 14.1 21.5 32.5 38.5 42.8 43.8 48.9 50.7 59.3 63.7 66.0 67.0 67.3 71.8 78.1 82.3 85.9 96.8b 113.8 115.7 117.5 121.1 124.3 129.3 135.0b

142.5

Temperature a 10 9 11 10 9 8 10 8 8 9 9 8.5 11.5 10.5 11.0 10.0 8.5 12.0 9.0 10.0 10.0 11.0 11.0 11.0 12.0 5.0 9.0

pH a 7.46 7.62 7.96 8.02 7.48 7.46 7.58 7.6 7.74 7.72 7.52 7.56 8.28 8.06 7.82 7.5 7.76 7.96 7.84 7.76 7.30 7.82 7.66 7.32 8.02 7.56 8.20

Conductivity a

(:mho/cm3 at 25NC)- - 141 220 302 363 318 265 230 132 123 165 230 278 280 252 318 268 270 - - - - - - - -

TSS (mg/L) 1 2 9 1 4 9 1 <1 7 1 2 1 2 3 8 2 4 4 1530 4 2 1 2 2 3 3 5

TDS 170 170 160 220 320 350 300

Hardness (mg/L asCaCO3)

111.9 111.6 101.7 161.6 138.3 164.9 124.9 188.9 188.1 94.5 90.7 115.5 183.5 198.9 191.5 188.7 251.2 159.4 196.6 98.1 75.1 131.9 97.9 70.4 155.5 328.8 232.0

Si (mg/L) 3.70 3.64 1.77 2.24 4.70 6.46 4.44 4.41 3.86 3.06 4.14 3.88 2.60 2.74 2.52 3.79 4.17 3.02 3.54 2.84 3.35 2.47 3.14 2.93 3.25 3.43 3.77

Ca (mg/L) 33.3 32.6 31.1 42.9 67.9 74.3 65.0 53.4 53.4 30.2 26.5 32.0 55.7 60.9 59.2 56.3 77.2 47.6 56.3 28.7 22.1 38.9 29.2 20.9 47.6 99.2 66.7

Na (mg/L) 1.64 1.12 4.69 5.30 7.24 13.7 11.6 10.5 6.98 4.00 3.30 2.69 6.05 6.13 5.64 4.66 3.67 6.39 7.24 5.52 6.36 7.66 2.10 3.06 6.22 3.04 49.5

Mg (mg/L) 6.98 7.34 5.84 8.98 16.7 19.3 15.2 13.5 13.3 7.07 5.97 8.66 10.8 11.5 10.6 11.7 14.2 9.84 13.6 6.43 4.83 8.44 6.07 4.42 8.98 19.7 15.9

K (mg/L) 0.02 0.10 0.31 0.41 0.16 0.41 0.10 0.23 0.23 0.31 0.20 0.23 0.70 0.74 0.70 0.53 0.94 0.51 0.63 0.37 0.12 0.53 0.33 0.18 0.61 1.60 2.81

cl (mg/L) 1.0 1.2 2.0 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.2 1.2 3.0 1.2 1.0 1.6 1.0 2.0 11.8 1.4 1.0 0.8 1.4 1.2 2.4 0.6 4.2

SO4 (mg/L) 5.6 6.2 9.2 11.4 5.6 5.2 5.2 5.4 8.8 6.8 6.6 6.2 18.6 15.2 15.4 21.8 13.0 19.6 37.5 16.8 7.6 25.5 10.6 14.8 35.0 25.5 59.0

NO3-N (:g/L) 52 <5 <5 25 15 5 7 <5 <5 12 9 <5 13 9 12 49 21 6 77 41 52 9 34 17 7 102 38

TDN (:g/L) 760 780 570 490 730 650 640 620 660 820 860 700 370 420 500 650 590 620 660 700 820 670 920 880 590 290 430

Suspended N (:g/L) 58 23 253 55 55 115 51 17 92 79 69 18 10 23 40 89 21 - - 107 58 13 65 24 22 36 57

TDP (:g/L) 13 19 10 8 13 16 12 12 12 16 13 10 7 11 11 16 14 12 16 14 17 17 35 18 10 8 11

Suspended P (:/L) 6 5 12 2 8 19 4 2 10 5 3 1 <1 4 7 8 6 5 715 4 4 3 5 4 4 4 3

Suspended C (:g/L) 620 380 3270 420 450 1460 560 450 1540 480 460 300 540 460 610 680 620 700 - 780 500 360 430 320 550 670 600

TSS - total suspended solids; TDN - total dissolved nitrogen; TDP - total dissolved phosphorus.a measurements taken on site at time of sampling.b measurements taken near stream mouth.

72

Appendix 7. Biological data for fish caught September 21, 1976.

Stream Mileage - Location

Species ForkLengthmm (n)

MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)

82.3-2 slimysculpin

34(2)36(1)

0.40.5

Stom(2)Stom

85.9-1 trout-perch 25(1)29(2)30(1)36(1)

0.20.30.30.5

00(2)0

StomStom(2)StomStom

slimysculpin

24(1)28(1)32(1)33(3)34(1)

0.10.20.30.30.4

0010(2).1(1)0

StomStomStomStom(3)Stom

longnosedace

20(1)26(1)

0.10.2

StomStom

longnosesucker

25(1)28(2)

0.20.2

00(2)

StomStom(2)

lake chub 2122(2)23(1)24(2)25(1)26(5)28(1)30(1)41(1)42(1)43(2)45(1)46(2)48(2)58(1)

0.10.10.10.20.20.20.20.30.80.91.11.11.21.22.3

0(2)00

11(1)

1(1)1(1)

Stom(1)Stom(2)StomStom

StomStom(1)

Stom(1)Stom(1)Stom

85.9-2 trout-perch 19(1)22(2)23(1)24(1)26(1)27(1)29(2)32(2)33(3)34(1)37(1)43(1)59(1)

0.10.20.20.10.20.20.30.40.40.40.61.02.8

0

0

00(1)0(1)0(1)00

1

Stom

Stom

StomStom(1)Stom(1)Stom(1)StomStomM2. Stom

northernpike

144(1) 23.2 1 Stom

longnosedace

23(1) 0.1 0 Stom

spottailshiner

29(1)33(1)35(1)36(1)

0.30.40.50.5

0000

StomStomStomStom

lake chub 23(1)27(1)39(1)

0.10.20.7

001

StomStomStom

emeraldshiner

19(1)21(1)30(1)

<0.1<0.20.2

117.5-2 (RabbitCreek)

northernpike

413(1)419(1)508(1)519(1)727(1)

525.0790.0860.01380.04000.0

33567

M2, StomM2, StomM2, StomM2, StomStom



MeanWeight g

Age yrs(n)

Commentsa(n)

129.3-1 (MuskegRiver)

lake chub 17(1)38(1)40(2)41(2)42(2)43(2)44(2)47(2)48(2)51(1)54(1)58(1)

0.10.60.70.80.81.01.01.21.41.51.92.1

10(1),1(1)1(2)1(2)1(2)1(2)1(2)1(1)122

StomStomStom(2)Stom(2)Stom(2)Stom(2)Stom(2)Stom(2)Stom(2)StomStomStom

trout-perch 27(1)30(3)31(4)32(2)33(1)34(1))35(41)31(6)37(1)38(1)39(1)40(1)52(1)54(1)57(1)58(4)59(1)60(1)61(2)62(1)63(1)64(1)

0.30.30.30.40.40.40.50.70.70.70.60.71.92.42.72.82.92.83.33.33.63.8

0(3)0(2)0(1)

0(4)

1

2(2)

2(1)

2(1)

Stom(3)Stom(2)Stom(1)

Stom(4)

StomF2, StomF2, Stom

M2, Stom

F2, Stom(1)F2, StomM2, Stom

northernpike

114125136

13.716.018.4

111

StomStomStom

longnosedace

19 0.1

a Stom - Stomach Analyzed M - MaleF - Female

1 Immature2 Maturing3 Mature4 Ripe5 Spent

73

Appendix 8. Biological data for fish caught July 6 to August 5, 1977 except where noted.



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)

8.0-1 longnosesucker

11(1)14(1)17(4)18(2)19(1)22(2)24(4)25(2)26(1)28(1)29(1

0.10.10.10.10.20.2

0(1)0(1)

0(1)

Stom(2)Stom(4)Stom(2)Stom(1)Stom(1)Stom(1)

14.1-2 Arcticgrayling

138(1)144(1)182(1)232(1)248(1)

202454112150

11223

M1, StomM1, StomM1, StomM1, StomM2, Stom


30(3)32(1)34(1)35(1)36(1)38(2)

0.30.30.30.30.60.6

0(2)00000(2)

Stom(3)StomStomStomStomStom(2)

cyprinid 16(2)17(3)18(5)19(1)20(3)

32.5-1 (BirchRiver)

longnosesucker

15(3)16(10)17(10)18(5)19(1)66(1) 3.0 1 Stom

trout-perchcyprinid

14(1)11(5)12(6)13(4)14(2)15(3)17(1)

<0.1

36.1-2 cyprinid 12(1)13(1)14(7)15(16)16(15)17(5)18(1)


19(1)21(1)22(2)24(2)27(1)28(1)163(1)167(1)

0.10.10.20.20.20.280.0110.0

0(2)0(1)00

StomStomStom(2)Stom(2)StomStomM2M2

cyprinid 13(14)14(16)15(28)16(5)

38.5-2 brookstickleback

11(1)12(2)14(2)15(2)16(1)23(1) 0.1 0 Stom

39.6-3 cyprinid 10(5)11(10)12(7)13(16)14(6)15(6)16(4)

lake chub 16(1)17(1)22(1)24(1)28(2)29(1)

0.10.10.20.3

00(2)0

StomStomStomStomStom(2)Stom



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)


19(1)20(1)21(4)22(6)23(3)24(2)25(2)26(1)27(1)28(2)29(1)

0.10.10.20.20.2

0.20.3

0(1)0(1)0(1)0(1)0(1)

0(1)0

StomStomStomStomStom

Stom(2)Stom

42.8-1 brookstickleback

25(1)26(1)27(1)28(1)29(2)30(1)

0.20.10.20.20.20.2

0

0(1)

StomStomStomStomStom(2)Stom


56(1)62(1)64(1)209(1)240(1)268(1)

2.12.83.0100.0125.0210.0

111234

StomStomStomM2, StomF5, Stoma

M5, Stoma

longnosesucker

19(2)20(1)21(4)22(3)23(2)26(3)26(1)29(2)30(1)31(1)32(2)34(1)249(1)278(1)284(1)285(1)301(1)308(1)324(1)

<0.1<0.1<0.10.10.10.20.20.30.30.30.30.4160250250250300300360

000(1)0

Stom (1)StomStom (1)

Stom (2)Stom (1)

Stom StomStom (1)StomM4a

M4a

F4a

M4a

M4a

M4a

M4a

finescaledace

39(1)40(1)44(1)

0.40.91.0

321

StomStomStom

brookstickleback

20(1)23(1)27(1)30(1)32(1)

<0.10.10.20.30.2

00000


cyprinid 11(1)12(16)13(2)14(22)15(1)16(1)20(1) <0.1


34(1)36(1)37(2)38(1)39(1)

0.50.60.70.70.8

000(2)0


cyprinid 14(2)15(4)16(1)17(5)

longnosesucker

20(1)21(2)23(1)24(2)

<0.10.10.10.1

0(2)00(2)

StomStom (2)StomStom (2)


18(1)19(4)20(3)21(1)22(3)23(2)25(1)

0.10.10.2

Stom (2)Stom (2)Stom


136(1)145(1)229(1)

60.065.0175.0

112

M1, StomM1,M2, Stom

74

Appendix 8, (Cont'd.)



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)


54(2)173(1)174(1)

1.9100.0100.0

1,2 Stom(2)M2M2

lake chub 41(1)50(1)58(1)

0.91.62.4

123

M2, StomM2, StomStom

finescaledace

43(1)44(1)58(1)61(1)62(2)64(3)65(1)66(4)67(1)68(1)69(2)70(1)71(1)74(2)75(3)76(2)78(1)79(1)89(1)

0.91.02.93.13.23.33.73.64.14.04.24.64.24.95.55.56.05.99.3

22344(2)3(2)23(2)

3,42

3,53(1),4(1)3(2)454

M3, StomStomM3, StomF3, StomMc, F3. StomF3, Stom(3)F3, StomF3, Stom(3)F3, StomF3, StomF3, Stom(2)F3, StomF3, StomF3, StomF3, Stom(3)F3, StomF3, StomF3, StomF3, Stom

brookstickleback

49(1)52(1)67(2)71(1)78(1)

0.91.83.03.94.0

112(2)22

StomM3, StomF3, M3, Stom (2)F3, StomF3, Stom


28(1)29(1)31(2)33(2)

0.30.30.30.3

StomStomStom(2)Stom(2)

slimysculpin

73(1) 3.7 6 M2, Stom


176 115.0 1 F2, Stom


26(1)59(1)62(1)173(1)174(1)185(1)189(1)194(1)201(1)213(1)287(1)

0.22.63.055.055.070.053.080.090.0103.0255.0

0022222234

StomStomStomM1, StomF1, M2, StomM2, StomM2, StomF2, StomM2, StomM2, Stom

longnosesucker

54(1) 1.8 1 Stom

50.7-3 northernpike

40(1)50(1)420(1)

0.61.1490.0

0

6

StomStomF2

roundwhitefish

274(1) 180.0 1 M1

cyprinid 17(1) <0.1


36(1)213(1)294(1)

0.5100.0300.0

34

StomF2, StomM2, Stom


23(1)32(1)36(2)37(1)39(1)235(1)261(1)288(1)303(1)305(1)

0.10.30.50.50.5150.0200.0275.0275.0325.0

0000034545

Stom StomStomStomStomM2M2M2M2b

M2

cyprinid 12(1)13(7)14(4)15(5)


31(1)32(1)34(1)

0.10.30.4

0StomStomStom



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)

63.0-1 Arcticgrayling(Cont'd.)

35(2)36(1)40(1)

0.40.40.7

0 (1) Stom(2)StomStom


22(1)25(2)26(2)27(3)28(4)29(1)35(1)

0.10.10.20.20.20.20.5

StomStom(2)Stom(2)Stom(3)Stom(4)StomStom


22(4)23(2)24(2)25(1)26(2)

0.20.20.10.10.2

Stom(4)Stom(2)Stom(2)StomStom(2)

67.0-1(Blackstone)

cyprinid 10(1)11(2)12(1)16(1)18(2)19(2)20(1)

longnosesucker

20(1)22(1)23(2)24(1)27(1)29(1)

<0.1<0.10.10.10.20.2

000000

StomStomStom(2)StomStomStom


16(1)20(2)22(1)26(2)28(1)29(1)

0.10.20.2

0(2)00

StomStomStom


16(1)17(4)18(11)19(8)20(4)21(3)

cyprinid 8(1)9(2)10(2)13(1)14(2)15(2)16(1)


200(1) 150.0 3 F2, Stom

longnosesucker

18(1)19(3)

StomStom(3)

lake chub 35(1) 0.5 2 M2, Stom

cyprinid 14(1)15(1)16(3)18(1)

71.8-1 northernpike

555(1)668(1)

1400.02225.0

59

F2, StomF2, Stom

71.8-2 northernpikelongnosesucker

506(1)17(1)18(1)19(3)21(1)22(3)

800.0 6 M2, Stom

cyprinid 11(1)12(2)13(6)14(9)15(6)


4145

0.71.1

00

StomStom

longnosesucker

18(1)19(3)20(3)21(3)

75

Appendix 8, (Cont'd.)



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)

78.1-1 northernpike

289(1) 180.0 3 M1, Stom


30(1)31(1)32(1)33(1)34(1)35(1)

0.30.30.40.40.40.5

000

StomStomStomStomStomStom

82.3-2 northernpike

477 725.0 6 F2

479 700.0 5 M2


218 120.0 3 M2


334(1)363(1)390(1)393(1)401(1)408(1)421(2)424(1)426(1)438(1)440(1)448(1)450(2)451(1)456(1)458(1)466(1)471(1)472(1)473(1)477(1)

430.0530.0625.0620.0725.0880.0850.0930.01050.01025.01140.01020.0975.01240.01280.01100.01320.01370.01360.01200.01475.0

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

F4b

M4b

M4b

M4b, F4M4b

M4b

M4b

M4b

M5b

M4b

M4b

M4b

lake chub 48(1) 1.3 2 Stomc

slimysculpin

53(1) 1.3 Stomc


18(1)20(2)21(1)23(2)25(1)28(1)29(1)

0.10.20.2

011

StomStomStom

lake chub 17(1) <0.1

trout-perch 1415

<0.1<0.1 Stom

99.9-100.5-1 Arcticgrayling

90.0 3 F2


146158167172174175177(2)182184186188194195216221255

32.035.045.050.052.055.058.060.058.065.065.072.080.0110.0110.0180.0

2222222222223224

M1, StomM1, StomF1, StomM2, StomM1, StomStomF2(2),Stom(1)M2, StomF1,F1, StomF2,M2,F2,M2, StomM2, StomF2, Stomb

longnosesucker

197 65.0 M2

brookstickleback

54 2.1 F, Stom


31195237251292298

0.380.0140.0145.0255.0235.0

0223445

StomF1, StomM2, StomF2, StomF2, StomM2, Stom



MeanWeight

g

Ageyrs (n)

Commentsa(n)

117.5-1 (RabbitCreek)

Arcticgrayling

97114144165186261276

9.010.026.050.065.0185.0220.0

1112334

M1,M1, StomM1, StomM2, StomF1, StomF2, StomF2, Stom

longnosesucker

231 175.0 M2


42165(2)174190203

0.845.050.075.090.0

2(2)222

StomF2(1)F1M1M2

longnosesucker

162176

40.050.0

0M1


204 85.0 3 F2, Stom


218229231

120.0150.0150.0

233

F2, StomM2, StomF2, Stom


159184250281

38.075.0200.0300.0

1243

M2, StomF1, StomF2, StomF2, Stom

129.3-1 (MuskegRiver)

slimysculpin

39 0.6 2 Stomc

longnosesucker

44 0.8 1 Stomc

lake chub 27(3)28(1)29(2)30(2)32(2)33(1)34(3)35(1)36(3)39(1)40(5)41(3)42(1)43(1)44(1)45(2)47(1)48(2)49(1)50(3)51(2)53(1)

0.10.20.20.30.30.30.40.40.50.70.70.80.81.01.81.01.01.21.31.51.61.7

1(3)11(2)1(2)1(2)11(3)11(3)11(4),2(1)1(1),2(2)2212(2)22(2)22(3)2(2)2

Stom(3)c

Stomc

Stom(2)c

Stom(2)c

Stom(2)c

Stomc

Stom(3)c

Stomc

Stom(3)c

Stomc

Stom(4)c

Stom(3)c

Stomc

Stomc

Stomc

Stom(2)c

Stomc

Stom(2)c

Stomc

Stom(3)c

Stom(2)c

Stomc


15(1)20(1)21(1)22(1)24(2)25(1)26(2)27(1)28(2)29(3)30(2)31(2)34(1)

<0.1<0.1<0.1<0.10.10.10.10.10.10.20.30.30.4

0000(2)

0(1)0(1)0(1),1(1)0(1)

StomStomStomStom(2)

Stom(1)Stom(1)Stom(2)Stom

lake chub 35 13839

0.50.60.6

11

StomStomStom

longnosedace

1215

<0.1<0.1

cyprinid 10(1)11(3)12(1)13(2)16(1)

a Caught 02/06/77 dStom - Stomach Analyzed M - Male F - Femaleb caught 29/05/77 1 Immature 2 Maturingc Caught 28/05/77 3 Mature 4 ripe

5 Spent

76

Appendix 9. Food items as percent by number, of diet in fish stomachs from Liard Highway streams, September, 1976.

Trout-perch

Lake Chub

Northern Pike

Longnose Dace

Slimy Sculpin

LongnoseSucker

SpottailShiner

EmeraldShiner

Stream Mileage 85.9 129.3 85.9 129.3 85.9 117.5 129.3 85.9 129.3 82.3 85.9 85.9 85.9 85.9

Fork Length Range (mm) 19-60 30-64 24-58 40-54 144 413-727 114-136 20-26 19 34-36 24-34 25-28 29-36 19-30

No. Stomachs Analysed 15 18 13 17 1 5 3 2 1 3 7 3 4 3

No. Stomachs Empty 0 2 4 2 0 4 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 2

Mean No.Organism/Stomacha

14.3 5.6 2.6 2.9 1.0 2 1.7 1.0 1.0 14.5 2.8 4.0 2.0 1.0

Food Item

Insecta Diptera 15.9 adults larvae Chironomidae 72.9 42.7 26.1 6.8 93.1 41.2 75.0 100.0 Others 0.9 7.9 17.4 11.8

Hymenoptera Formicidae 2.3

Homoptera 25.0

Hemiptera 2.3

Trichoptera 100.0 adults larvae 1.9 12.4 26.1 9.1 11.8

Plecoptera 0.9 1.1 4.4 4.6

Ephemeroptera 2.8 34.8 26.1 15.9 100.0 100.0 6.9 35.3 8.3

Coleoptera 1.1

Crustacea Ostracoda 16.7 Copepoda 20.1 Amphipoda 0.5

Arachnida Araneida 4.6

Nema toda 13.6

Fish Remains 100.0 100.0

a empty stomachs no included.

77Appendix 10. Food items as percent by number, of diet in Arctic grayling stomachs from Liard Highway streams, 1977.

b) Grayling with fork length less than 100 mm.

Stream Mileage 29.8 43.8 45.9 49.9 50.7 51.9 59.3 63.0 66.0 78.1 82.3 115.7 121.1

Fork Length Range (mm) 30-38 56-64 34-39 28-33 26-62 36 23-39 22-40 22-26 41-65 30-35 31 42

No. Stomachs Analysed 9 3 6 6 3 1 6 21 11 2 6 1 1

No. Stomachs Empty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mean No. Organisms/Stomacha 13.8 111.7 9.5 5.7 20.3 10.0 8.5 15.2 9.4 59.5 19.7 14.0 28.0

Food Item

Insecta Diptera adults 3.2 - - 5.9 9.8 - - 51.3 - 5.0 - - - pupae 66.9 6.9 - 50.0 23.0 40.0 37.3 10.3 12.6 - 16.1 57.1 - larvae Chironomidae 25.0 27.2 26.3 38.2 45.9 30.0 29.4 19.7 50.5 9.2 50.0 35.7 92.9 Simuliidae - 63.9 17.5 - 1.6 10.0 19.6 6.3 7.8 39.5 2.5 7.1 - Ceratopogonidae - 0.3 - - - - 3.9 4.4 - - - - - Unidentified - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - -

Hymenoptera adults (Unidentified) - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - Formicidae - - - - 4.9 - - - - - - - -

Homoptera 0.8 - - - 6.6 - - - - - - - -

Hemiptera 2.4 0.3 - - - - - 0.6 - - 0.8 - -

Trichoptera adults - - - - 1.6 - - - - - - - - larvae - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Plecoptera - - - 2.9 1.6 - - - 3.9 - 0.8 - -

Ephemeroptera - 1.2 56.1 2.9 - 10.0 2.0 6.3 23.3 46.2 28.8 - 7.1

Coleoptera 1.6 - - - - - - - - - - - -

Collembola - - - - - - - - 1.9 - - - -

Crustacea

Ostracoda - - - - - - - 0.3 - - - - -

Copepoda - - - - - - - 0.6 - - - - -

Arachnida

Acarina - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Araneida - - - - 1.6 - - - - - 0.8 - -

Nema toda - 0.3 - - - 10.0 5.9 0.3 - - - - -

Fish Remains - - - - - - 2.0 - - - - - -

a Empty stomachs not included.

78

Appendix 11. Food items, as percent by number, of diet in Arctic grayling stomachs from Liard Highway streams, 1977.

a) Grayling with fork length greater than 100 mm.

Stream Mileage 14.1 43.8 48.9 50.7 51.9 59.3 67.3 115.7 117.5 121.1 124.3

Fork Length Range (mm) 138-248 209-268 136-229 173-287 213-294 235-305 200 146-298 114-276 204 184-281

No. Stomachs Analysed 5 3 2 7 2 5 1 16 6 1 7

No. Stomachs Empty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Mean No. Organisms/Stomacha 64.0 57.7 19.5 50.6 121.0 49.0 135.0 54.5 55.7 66.0 55.3

Food Item

Insecta Diptera adults 27.0 1.7 12.8 20.9 39.3 4.1 65.2 20.9 16.5 18.2 24.0 larvae Chironomidae 1.6 52.0 5.1 - 1.7 6.5 - 2.0 1.8 3.0 0.8 Simuliidae 0.3 6.9 23.1 - - 0.4 0.7 1.3 1.5 1.5 2.6 Ceratopogonidae - 12.1 - 0.3 - 1.2 - 0.8 - - - Unidentified 0.3 - - 0.8 4.5 4.1 - 0.4 - - 3.4

Hymenoptera adults (Unidentified) 9.7 - - 8.5 7.4 0.8 3.0 8.1 4.5 10.6 6.2 Formicidae 22.5 2.9 - 8.8 2.1 2.9 8.1 9.8 12.3 24.2 6.5

Homoptera 2.8 - - 35.0 0.4 - 3.0 4.0 2.1 4.5 10.9

Hemiptera 2.8 - - 0.8 8.3 3.3 0.7 4.7 1.8 - 3.4

Trichoptera adults 0.6 - - - - 0.4 - 1.3 0.3 - 0.8 larvae 2.2 1.2 30.8 14.4 21.1 39.6 0.7 17.7 19.8 15.2 4.1

Plecoptera 1.9 3.5 - 1.4 0.4 0.4 - 0.8 1.5 3.0 0.8

Ephemeroptera 5.9 2.9 - - - 0.4 2.2 1.2 15.0 1.5 3.1

Coleoptera 7.5 4.0 - 3.4 7.0 13.9 15.6 22.0 17.4 10.6 23.0

Orthoptera 0.6 - - - - - - - - - -

Lepidoptera - - - 0.3 - - - 0.2 - - 0.3

Odonata 0.3 5.8 25.6 1.7 - 9.4 - 1.7 - - 0.8

Arachnida Acarina - - - 0.8 - - - 0.1 - - - Araneida 4.1 0.6 2.6 2.0 1.7 1.2 - 1.7 3.3 3.0 4.4

Mollusca Gastropoda 0.3 - - - - - - - - - -

Annelida Oligochaeta - 4.0 - - 0.4 - - - - - - Hirudinea - 1.2 - - - 1.2 - - - - -

Nema tomorpha 5.9 - - 0.3 4.1 3.3 - 0.4 - - 0.3

Nematoda 4.4 1.2 - 0.6 1.7 6.9 0.7 0.8 2.4 4.5 4.9a Empty stomachs not included.

79

Appendix 12. Food items, as percent by number, of diet in longnose sucker stomachs from Liard Highway streams, 1977.

Stream Mileage 8.0 32.5 38.5 39.6 43.8 45.9 48.9 50.7 67.0 67.3 85.9 129.3

Fork Length Range (mm) 22-29 66 19-28 21-29 19-34 20-25 54 25 20-29 26-29 25-29 20-44

No. stomachs Analysed 11 1 8 8 10 11 2 1 7 4b 3c 11d

No. Stomachs Empty 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3

Mean No. Organisms/Stomacha 5.2 1.0 74.8 30.8 69.0 21.6 14.5 12.0 10.7 - - 0.3

Food Item

Insecta Diptera adults - - - - - - - - - - - - pupae 15.8 - 4.8 6.5 3.8 9.8 3.4 - 2.7 - - - larvae Chironomidae 45.6 100.0 8.2 13.4 7.5 77.3 79.3 25.0 6.7 - - - Simuliidae 8.8 - 0.3 - 0.7 1.5 - - - - - 50.0 Other - - - 0.8 0.3 - - - - - - -

Trichoptera larvae 7.0 - - - - - - - - - - -

Plecoptera - - - - - 1.0 - - - - - 50.0

Ephemeroptera - - - - - - 17.2 - - - - -

Arachnida Acarina 5.3 - 0.2 - - 0.5 - - - - - -

Crustacea

Copepoda 8.8 - - 75.2 37.5 2.6 - 75.0 64.0 - - -

Cladocera 8.8 - - - - - - - - - - -

Ostracoda - - 86.5 4.1 49.4 7.2 - - 26.7 - - -

Notostraca - - - - 0.9 - - - - - - -

a Empty stomachs not included.b 1 stomach contains detritus material, no further analysis.c 3 stomach contain detritus material, no further analysis.d 7 stomach contain detritus material, no further analysis.

80

Appendix 13. Food items, as percent by number, of diet in Cyprinid stomachs from Liard Highway streams, 1977.

Lake chub Finescale dace

Stream Mileage 39.6 48.9 67.3 85.9 (Netla) 129.3 (Muskeg) 43.8 48.9

Fork Length Range (mm) 16-29 41-58 35 48 27-53 39-44 44-89

No. Stomachs Analysed 7 3 1 1 44 3 30

No. Stomachs Empty 0 0 1 0 2 1 18

Mean No. Organisms/Stomacha 5.1 9.3 0 4.0 4.6 5.5 3.8

Food Item

Insecta Diptera adults - - - - 7.3 9.1 - pupae 16.7 17.9 - - 1.0 63.6 8.7 larvae Chironomidae 47.2 3.6 - 75.0 46.4 9.1 6.5 Simuliidae - 78.6 - - 2.1 - 73.9 Other 2.8 - - - 1.6 - -

Ephemeroptera adults 8.3 - - - 1.6 - - larvae - - - - 5.2 - -

Plecoptera - - - - 1.0 - -

Hymenoptera

Formicidae - - - - 0.5 9.1 -

Trichoptera adults - - - - 3.1 - - larvae - - - - 6.3 - 4.3

Coleoptera adults - - - - - 9.1 - larvae - - - - 2.1 - -

Collembola - - - - 0.5 - -

Unidentified Remains - - - - - - 6.5

Crustacea Copepoda 5.6 - - - 4.2 - -

Ostracoda 19.4 - - - 0.5 - -

Amphipoda - - - - - - -

Arachnida Acarina - - - - 1.6 - -

Nema toda - - - 25.0 15.1 - -


81

Appendix 14. Food items, as percent by number, of diet in northern pike, slimy sculpin and brook stickleback stomachs from Liard Highway streams, 1977.

Northern pike Slimy sculpin Brook stickleback

Stream Mileage 50.7 71.8 78.1 82.3 48.9 85.9 (Netla) 129.3 (Muskeg) 38.5 42.8 43.8 48.9 115.7

Fork Length Range (mm) 40-50 506-668 289 477-479 73 53 39 23 25-30 20-32 49-78 54

No. Stomachs Analysed 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 7 5 6 1

No. Stomachs Empty 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 0

Mean No. Organisms/Stomacha 2.5 0 1.0 0 2.0 2.0 1.0 12.0 1.0 55.4 17.0 9.0

Food Item

Insecta Diptera pupae - - - - - - 6.1 - - larvae Chironomidae - - - - 58.3 - 36.8 2.4 44.4 Simuliidae - - - - - - - 3.5 - Other - - - - - - - - 11.1

Ephemeroptera larvae 80.0 - - 100.0 - 66.7 0.4 94.1 44.4

Plecoptera - - 100.0 - - - - - -

Trichoptera larvae - 100.0 - - - - - - -

Coleoptera larvae 20.0 - - - - - - - -

Odonata 100.0

Crustacea Copepoda - - - - 33.3 - 36.1 - -

Ostracoda - - - - 8.3 - 20.6 - -

Arachnida - - - - - 33.3 - - - Acarina


82

Appendix 15. Biological data for fish collected from lakes along the Liard Highway route, August 3, 1977.

Lake Drainage Species Method Fork Length Weight g Age Yrs Sex and Maturity Stomach Contents(n)

Cormack Popular River northern pike gill net3.8 cm x 18.3 m

243 105 4 F1 Empty263 135 4 M1 Empty265 135 4 M1 AM(3), DI(1), HE(1)269 125 5 M1 Empty280 180 4 F1 AM(27), COL(3)283 145 F1 Empty298 190 M1 AM(1)303 235 6 F1 COL(2), AM(3)327 270 6 M1 Empty328 240 M1 Empty329 240 5 M1 Empty351 250 8 F1 AM(50), CL(50), COL(1)365 315 7 M1 HE(38), AM(1), COL(1)

Unnamed Lake Popular River northern pike gill net gang3.8 cm x 2.1 m6.4 cm x 2.1 m8.9 cm x 2.1 m11.4 cm x 2.1 m14.0 cm x 2.1 m

442454462483507

640650675810840

7788

10

F2F2F2F2F2

AM8(7)

EmptyAM(14), HE(1)Empty

Bovie Lake Muskeg River yellow walleye gill net gang5.1 cm x 22.9 m7.6 cm x 22.9 m10.1 cm x 22.9 m

281285306327346

225230310350410

56988

M1M1M1M1F1

EmptyEmptyEmptyEmptyCL(9)

347 440 8 F1 Empty350 450 9 F1 AM(1)352 650 10 F2 Empty360 460 8 F2 CE(1), CL(1), FR(1)365 490 8 F2 Empty366 505 9 F2 Empty407 725 12 M2 Empty412 775 11 F1 FR412 775 13 F2 FR416 725 15 M2 Empty422 750 12 F2 FR453 1000 16 F2 Empty455 850 15 F2 Empty

white sucker 242 170388 790 F2396 875 M1397 1025 M2415 1090 F2447 1450 M2

humpback whitefish 310 437 6 F1 CL(47)314 470 7 M1 CL(200)367 650 8 M1 CL(75)459 3310 11 F2 CL(1000'S)480 1725 14 M3 CL(75)484 1705 10 F2 Empty503 1640 13 M3 CL(100), CO(2)513 1835 14 M3 CL(23), CO(1)518 1190 10 M3 Empty

Unnamed Lake Muskeg river longnose suckerwhite sucker

gill net gang5.1 cm x 22.9 m7.6 cm x 22.9 m10.1 cm x 22.9 m

219198213

175125150

225 175225 175226 150230 175232 200236 200243 200257 350

AM - AmphipodaDI - DipteraHE - HemipteraCOL - ColeopteraCL - CladoceraCE - CestodaFR - Fish Remains

83

Appendix 16. List of fish species taken from Liard river tributaries crossed by the proposed Liard Highway and including lakes, 1971-1977.

StreamMileages

Arc

ticgr

aylin

g

Nor

ther

npi

ke

Long

nose

suck

er

Whi

tesu

cker

Wal

leye

Roun

dw

hite

fish

Mou

ntai

nw

hite

fish

Hum

pbac

kw

hite

fish

Burb

ot

Broo

ksti

ckle

back

Trou

tpe

rch

Slim

ysc

ulpi

n

Lake

chub

Fine

scal

eda

ce

Long

nose

dace

Emer

ald

shin

er

Spot

tail

shin

er

Uni

dent

.Cy

rpin

id

A I A I A I A I A A I A I A I A I A I A I A I A A A A I

8.014.1 5

21.5 (Poplar R.) 3,4 1,3 1,3 1,3 1,3 1,5 1 1 1,3 3 3 129.8 5 5

32.5 (Birch R.) 1,3 1,2,5 1 1,5 1 3 1,4 1 536.1 538.5 5 5 5 539.6 5 5 542.8 543.8 5 5 5 5 5 5 545.9 5 5 548.9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 549.9 550.7 5 5 5 5 5 5 551.9 5 559.3 5 5 5 563.0 566.0 5 5

67.0 (Blackstone R.) 3 1 1,3,5 1 3 2 3 3 1,3 3 3 3 1 1 567.3 5 3 3,5 3,5 571.8 5 5 5 578.1 5 5 582.3 5 482.6 5

85.9 Netla R.) 4 3 4 5 4,5 3 3 4 4,5 3,5 4 3,4,5 4 4 4 499.9-100.5 5

115.7 5 5 5 5 5117.5 (Rabbit Cr.) 5 5 4 5 3

121.1 5 5 5 3 3 3124.3 5

129.3 (Muskeg R.) 4 3 3,5 5 5 5 3,4 3 3,5 3,4,5 3 3,4,5 5A - adult; I - immature

1 Hatfield et al. (1972)2 Dryden et al. (1973)3 Synergy (1975)4 this study - fall 19765 this copy - summer 19775 this study - summer 197

84

Appendix 17. Alphabetical list of common names and associated generic names for fish capturedfrom Liard Highway streams, 1971-1977.

Arctic grayling - Thymallus arcticus (Pallas)

Brook stickleback - Culaea inconstans (Kirtland)

Burbot - Lota lota (Linnaeus)

Emerald shiner - Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque

Finescale dace - Pfrille neogaea (Cope)

Humpback whitefish - Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill)

Lake chub - Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz)

Longnose dace - Rhinichthys cataractae (Valenciennes)

Longnose sucker - Catostomus catostomus (Forster)

Mountain whitefish - Prosopium williamsoni (Girard)

Northern pike - Esox lucius Linnaeus

Round whitefish - Prosopium cylindraceum (Pallas)

Slimy sculpin - Cottus cognatus Richardson

Spottail shiner - Notropis hudsonius (Clinton)

Trout-perch - Percopsis omiscomaycus (Walbaum)

White sucker - Catostomus commersoni (Lacépède)

Yellow walleye - Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill)

fisheries and marine service manuscript report …14 map showing sampling locations on creek mile...

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