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Horsefly River Roundtable Streamkeepers release first report

A projected schedule was formed of various streams and creeks to explore and for assessment
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Photo submitted Judy Hillaby holds four rainbow trout fry examined by the Horsefly River Roundtable Streamkeepers during a recent expedition along the Horsefly River.

Bruce Macleod

Special to the Tribune

On June 22, team leader Judy Hillaby, accompanied by Jane Fitschen, Andrea Kaeppel, and visiting biologist Shannon Anderson with her daughter, Kylie, from Campbell River, took a get your feet wet expedition on the Little Horsefly River with Jane as the tour guide.

Sockeye salmon, trout, squaw fish, plus others I am sure inhabit this area, which is characterized by lush vegetation and heavy timber along an extremely healthy channel with good spawning grounds. It was a good feel of what we have to explore and document the water quality and aquatic life which exists in our riparian areas.

READ MORE: Sockeye salmon return in droves to Quesnel Lake watershed

A projected schedule was formed of various streams and creeks to explore and for assessment, and first on the list was Dry Gulch Creek for Aug. 2. Of course it was a rainy, miserable day, but Judy Hillaby, Brian Englund, Jane Fitschen and Helen Englund showed up. The team measured the dissolved oxygen in Dry Gulch Creek and found that it was very high in dissolved oxygen which is very cold indeed; 5C with no distinguishable turbidity, and the pond above was very similar to this; 5.5C. Both pond and stream had a pH of 7.0, which is just a little high if you are a gardener. The rain interfered with some of the tests so we learn as we go and will be better prepared for wet weather next time.

The next expedition occurred on Friday, Aug. 10 and the volunteers this time were Hillaby, Brian Englund and Elaine Armagost. This was a much different day than last time; 25C and smoky. Yellow goatsbeard, an invasive species was noted in the area. Water temperature was 21.4C at 1 p.m., which is extremely warm.

A long set was made walking for about five metres in water 30 to 50 cm with a catch of two of this year’s rainbow trout fry which, considering the water temperature, was quite remarkable. The wasps eventually drove the stalwart Streamkeepers to another location.

Next stop was the boat launch location on the Horsefly River where they did two seine sets in 20.1C water with the following results: one rainbow trout fry, three mountain whitefish fry, 13 northern pikeminnow less than one-inch long, plus two to three very small non-salmonids, and nine to 10 unidentified larger non-salmonids over an inch long. As well as this they got some bugs and tried out the viewer.

READ MORE: Horsefly Salmon Festival Sept. 28-19

The last outing in this program was again right under the Horsefly Bridge in the Horsefly River. This group consisted of Judy Hillaby, Dave Farkas, Selina Farkas and Ernie Gruhs. Selina took some great photos. Two short sets were made at the Horsefly Bridge with the catch consisting of two rainbow trout fry, plus nine non-salmonids under an inch. Next at boat launch upstream in faster water four sets were made with a total catch of four rainbow trout fry, one rainbow trout juvenile, one mountain whitefish juvenile and no non-salmonids at this location. Water temperature was 16.7C with a relatively high pH of 8.0.

As before they captured some bugs, including a dragonfly nymph plus some very small mayflies, and a larger stonefly nymph. The need for a microscope is clear to see if we are to accurately catalogue all the invertebrate life in the local streams.

If you are at all interested in being part of the Horsefly Streamkeepers, please phone Hillaby in Horsefly at 250-620-3495. There is world of interesting knowledge just waiting to be tapped in our Horsefly watershed, and Judy is just the person to show it to you.



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