There are several Federal, State, and Provincial programs that fund habitat restoration projects. These programs may be species specific, such as those focused on species at risk like salmonids, or project specific, such as those focused on restoring fish passage. It is important to review the mandate of the funding agency before applying to ensure … Continued
There are several reasons why a restoration project may not result in a measurable change in fish numbers. One reason is that the response to a restoration is rarely immediate and may take years to observe. Another reason is that the restoration may not have been large enough to effect change or may not have … Continued
There are four techniques for measuring population size: the mark-recapture method, length-age relationships, age distribution, and growth increment analysis. The mark-recapture method involves capturing and marking a sample of animals, then recapturing a portion of them and using statistical calculations to estimate the size of the entire population. Length-age relationships involve using the size of … Continued
Success in a restoration project can be measured by evaluating whether the desired change has been achieved. This involves comparing the current results to the baseline numbers. Measurement criteria may include improvements in water quality, reduction in meander migration, establishment of a new fish population, successful fish passage, increase in fish numbers, and the creation … Continued
The measure of the mass of an element entering a water body over a defined period is called loading. Loading tends to be expressed in large numbers, but these numbers do not necessarily equate to an environmental disaster. Even the most pristine water bodies can have massive loads of nutrients or other elements entering them … Continued
The channel-forming discharge concept suggests that there is a specific flow rate that will produce channel dimensions similar to those shaped by natural long-term hydrological processes. This concept can be used to establish instream flow criteria by finding a reference reach with a healthy fishery and using the flow in that reach as a model … Continued
