NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region

Tags: biology, fish habitat, fish, road construction

Objective(s): The objectives are to determine the presence of fish and the quality of fish habitat at stream crossings along the proposed road alignment.

Project Description: The objectives of this study are to determine the presence of fish and the quality of fish habitat at stream crossings along the proposed road alignment. They will be achieved through observations, measurements, and surveys carried out during freshet. These observations will provide an indication of seasonal habitat use at high water, when connectivity to upstream habitats may exist. Similarly, field work during low summer flows would serve to identify permanent and ephemeral streams, and confirm fish presence under low flow conditions. The investigator will assess all stream crossing to look for obstructions, size and quality of upstream habitats, size and characteristics of upstream lakes, flow conditions, and identification/confirmation of streams requiring ground sampling; thorough photographic and video documentation. Methods include: One field trip will take place in June and one in August. Each field trip will be of 4 to 7 days duration and will include the assessment of all stream crossings. Standard fish habitat surveys following BC Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC) methodology. The trips will also include quantitative habitat surveys (using RISC site cards); electrofishing; 24-hour Gee Trapping at selected stations to sample fish species present. The results will be written up in a report and will be communicated to various government agencies (as required by the permit) and presented at community meetings in the fall of 2010. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 5, 2010 to September 5, 2010.