freshwater fish monitoring study

VUNTUT GWICH’IN FIRST NATION TRADITIONAL TERRITORY The objective of the study was to gather data on freshwater fish and their distribution in selected lakes, rivers and streams to improve understanding of species presence and diversity. North Yukon Freshwater Fish Monitoring Study E lders and community members selected sampling sites. Priority was based on areas that were fished by community members or where a limited amount of information was available. Environment Yukon selected additional lakes to collect widespread information on species presence and diversity. OLD CROW FLATS (J. MEIKLE, YG) © ENVIRONMENT YUKON Environment Summary ALASKA YUKON OLD CROW FLATS R I V ER J o h n s o n Creek D r if t woo d River Old Crow River Caribou Bar Ck PO R C U P IN E Vuntut National Park Old Crow Rampart House Freshwater Fish Survey 2006 2007 2008 ± 0 10 20 30 km LAKE SURVEYS GILLNETTING • Small mesh gillnets were set at random loca- tions around the lake-shore for varying periods of time. • Nets used were 22.9 m x 2.4 m (75 ft x 8 ft) with three mesh sizes. • Fish captured were measured for length and weight and released at the sampling location. • Fish killed purposely were sampled for sex and maturity and stomach contents and ageing structures were taken. • Determined depth, assessed for inlets and outlets and collected water parameters such as conductivity, pH and temperature. Fish Survey Methods MINNOW TRAPPING & BEACH SEINING • Selected because of interest from community members. • Sites sampled were tributaries to the Porcupine and Old Crow Rivers. • Sites were assessed by boat in 2006 and by helicopter in 2007. • Minnow traps were set overnight. • Beach seining was conducted when suitable habitat was found. MINNOW TRAPPING (S. THOMPSON, YG) GILLNETTING (S. THOMPSON, YG) CREEK SURVEYS LAKE SURVEYS (3 lakes sampled) Cadzow Lake Fish caught – northern pike and lake whitefish Dennis Lake* No fish caught (shallow) Stephen Lake* Dry lake 2006 2006 KEY FINDINGS • Cadzow Lake: sustaining populations of northern pike and lake whitefish with adequate depth and a good outflow. • Stephen & Dennis Lakes: dry or shallow and likely do not contain any fish. CREEK SURVEYS Minnow Trapping 16 sites sampled Fish caught – northern pike and slimy sculpin Beach Seining 3 sites sampled Fish caught – round whitefish, arctic grayling, longnose sucker and slimy sculpin 2007 KEY FINDINGS • Lakes ranged in depth from 0.5 to 3.4 m (1.5 to 11 ft). • Very healthy fish populations were found in four lakes. • Survival through the winter was confirmed. CREEK SURVEYS Minnow Trapping 3 sites sampled. No fish caught. LAKE SURVEYS (7 lakes sampled) Fish caught – arctic grayling, northern pike and least cisco. A number of fish were tagged with small numbered juvenile tags in Vanajoho* and Big Whitefish Lake to look at possible migration into the Old Crow River during the winter. Both lakes have an outlet into the Old Crow River. 2007 Key Findings - All Years • 26 lakes and 17 creeks were sampled. • Seven species of freshwater fish were identified. • Although shallow, ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 m deep (1.5 to 16 ft), fish over-winter in many of the lakes sampled. • Healthy presence of aquatic insects and amphipods (freshwater shrimp) for fish to eat. Project Description LAKE SURVEYS (16 lakes sampled) Fish caught – northern pike, least cisco and longnose sucker 2008 2008 KEY FINDINGS • Lakes ranged in depth from 0.8 to 5.0 m (2.5 to 16 ft). • Very healthy fish populations were found in five lakes. • Survival through the winter was confirmed. NORTHERN PIKE (S. THOMPSON, YG) Members of the Vuntut Gwitchin and the North Yukon Renewable Resource Council participated in this study. * Local name

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Page 1: Freshwater Fish Monitoring Study

VUNTUT GWICH’IN FIRST NATION TRADITIONAL TERRITORY

The objective of the study was to gather data onfreshwater fish and their distribution in selected lakes, rivers and streams to improve understanding of species presence and diversity.

North YukonFreshwater Fish Monitoring Study

Elders and community members selected sam-pling sites. Priority was

based on areas that were fished by community members or where a limited amount of information was available. Environment Yukon selected additional lakes to collect widespread information on species presence and diversity.

Old CrOw Flats (J. MEiklE, YG)

Environment

Summary

ALA

SKA

O L D C R O W F L A T S

RI V

E R

Joh

n so n

C re ek

Drif twood

River

O ld

Crow

River

Caribou

Bar Ck

P OR C

U P I NE

VuntutNational Park

Old Crow

Rampart House

Freshwater Fish Survey

2006

2007

2008

0 10 20 30

kilometres

0 10 20 30 km

LAKE SURVEYS

GillNEttiNG

• Small mesh gillnets were set at random loca-tions around the lake-shore for varying periods of time.

• Nets used were 22.9 m x 2.4 m (75 ft x 8 ft) with three mesh sizes.

• Fish captured were measured for length and weight and released at the sampling location.

• Fish killed purposely were sampled for sex and maturity and stomach contents and ageing structures were taken.

• Determined depth, assessed for inlets and outlets and collected water parameters such as conductivity, pH and temperature.

Fish Survey Methods

MiNNOw trappiNG & BEaCh sEiNiNG

• Selected because of interest from community members.

• Sites sampled were tributaries to the Porcupine and Old Crow Rivers.

• Sites were assessed by boat in 2006 and by helicopter in 2007.

• minnow traps were set overnight.

• Beach seining was conducted when suitable habitat was found.

MiNNOw trappiNG (s. thOMpsON, YG)

GillNEttiNG (s. thOMpsON, YG)

CREEK SURVEYS

lakE survEYs (3 lakes sampled)Cadzow Lake Fish caught – northern pike and lake whitefish

Dennis Lake* No fish caught (shallow)

Stephen Lake* Dry lake

2006 kEY FiNdiNGs• Cadzow Lake: sustaining populations of northern pike and lake whitefish

with adequate depth and a good outflow.

• Stephen & Dennis Lakes: dry or shallow and likely do not contain any fish.

CrEEk survEYsMinnow Trapping 16 sites sampled

Fish caught – northern pike and slimy sculpin

Beach Seining 3 sites sampledFish caught – round whitefish, arctic grayling, longnose sucker and slimy sculpin

2007 kEY FiNdiNGs• Lakes ranged in depth from 0.5 to 3.4 m (1.5 to 11 ft).

• very healthy fish populations were found in four lakes.

• Survival through the winter was confirmed.

CrEEk survEYsMinnow Trapping 3 sites sampled. No fish caught.

lakE survEYs (7 lakes sampled)Fish caught – arctic grayling, northern pike and least cisco.A number of fish were tagged with small numbered juvenile tags in vanajoho* and Big Whitefish Lake to look at possible migration into the Old Crow River during the winter. Both lakes have an outlet into the Old Crow River.

2007

Key Findings - All Years• 26 lakes and 17 creeks were sampled.

• Seven species of freshwater fish were identified.

• Although shallow, ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 m deep (1.5 to 16 ft), fish over-winter in many of the lakes sampled.

• Healthy presence of aquatic insects and amphipods (fresh-water shrimp) for fish to eat.

Project Description

lakE survEYs (16 lakes sampled)Fish caught – northern pike, least cisco and longnose sucker

08 2008 kEY FiNdiNGs

• Lakes ranged in depth from 0.8 to 5.0 m (2.5 to 16 ft).

• very healthy fish populations were found in five lakes.

• Survival through the winter was confirmed.

NOrthErN pikE (s. thOMpsON, YG)