Shelly Creek Watershed Assessment
As part of the Watershed Health and You program, Shelly Creek was subject to an instream fish habitat assessment summer 2014. Volunteers were trained by Fisheries Biologist, Dave Clough, in the Urban Salmon Habitat Program (USHP) methodology. (USHP was developed in the late 90s by the Ministry of Environment – Fisheries for new stewards as a way for them to assess their urban streams before launching into restoration activities.) Shelly Creek was assessed in 1999 by MVIHES members using the USHP so this provided a great opportunity to replicate the study in 2014 and get new volunteers to assess this important tributary and determine the condition of the habitat after 15 years.
Here are some of our findings:
- There was a 50% decrease in pools –probably a result ofstream erosion causing sediment to move downstream and filling up pools where fish reside in low flow periods
- We found less Large Woody Debris available for fish to act as complex cover – the debris probably gets cleaned out to prevent flooding of private properties
- Significant increase in the amount of fine sediment covering the bottom of pools – fish do not survive in streams with muddy substrates
- Decrease in gravels – Salmonids need gravels for spawning
- Significant increase in erosion of stream banks during high winter flows – causes infilling of pools downstream
- A High number of obstructions to fish passage during low flow periods – mostly wood and root jams with gravel plugs
- Alterations to the stream were largely due to placing of riprap and removal of woody debris
- Stream temperature was high in upper reaches in spite of excellent riparian cover
A Report will be compiled for MVIHES by Peter Law
2014 Surveyors included: Barb Riordan, Elaine Lefebvre, Faye Smith, Diane Jones , Pam Nosworthy, Neil Worboys, Peter Law