Appendix - 197360 - Riddeck Creek

Site Location

PSCIS crossing 197360 is located on Riddeck Creek at km 47 of the Morice-Owen FSR accessed from Houston, BC. The Morice-Owen FSR is a forest tenure road and the responsibility of the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development (FLNR) - Nadina District. The area immediately to the south of the subject crossing is a conservation area manged by the Nature Trust of British Columbia.

Background

Riddeck Creek flows through an extensive area of wetland type habitat into the top end of Owen Lake approximately 1km downstream of the crossing. Owen Lake is drained by Owen Creek emptying into the Morice River approximately 20km to the north. At the crossing location, Riddeck Creek is a 4th order stream with a watershed area upstream of the highway of approximately 29km². The elevation of the watershed ranges from a maximum of 1140 to 750m at PSCIS crossing 197360. Riddeck Creek is known to contain longnose sucker and rainbow trout usptream of the subject culvert (MoE 2020a). On the north side of the upper watershed, at an elevation of 1160m, are the 25ha Neuch Lakes. The limit of fish distribution in the Riddeck Creek mainstem is documented by David Bustard and ssociates Ltd. (1999) as a 6m high waterfall located 2.4km upstream of the FSR with the three main tributary systems classified as either non-fish bearing or fish bearing for only short distances (<200m) from the mainstem. Of note, a dam is documented in MoE (2020b) just downstream of Owen Lake and is visible on google earth imagery. FLNRORD team members note that the structure is a beaver dam (pers comm. Lars Reese-Hanson, Aquatic Habitat Specialist, FLNR).

At the time of reporting, as an initiative of the Forest and Range Evaluation Program as well as the Bulkley Valley Research Centre, FLNR and the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy were undertaking a watershed status evaluation of the Owen Creek watershed (D. Pickard et al., n.d.). The evaluation uses remotely sensed and field based surveys to interpret the current functioning condition of the watershed as well as its possible future state as a result of continuing human and natural activities by ranking eight indicators of watershed pressure related to riparian health, fish passage and fine sediment delivery (Darcy Pickard et al. 2014; Porter et al. 2019).

PSCIS stream crossing 197360 was prioritized for follow up with a habitat confirmation through consultation with Lars Reese-Hansen and Don Morgan (Wildlife Habitat Specialist, MoE). They indicated (pers comm.) that following fish passage assessments in 2014 (implemented through watershed status evaluation field surveys throughout the Owen Creek watershed), Riddeck Creek upstream of the crossing contained the highest value habitat potentially blocked by a road-stream crossing barrier. A map of the watershed is provided in map attachment 093L.104.

Stream Characteristics at Crossing

At the time of the survey, the culvert was un-embedded, non-backwatered and considered a barrier to upstream fish passage. The pipe was 1.2m in diameter with a pipe length of 27m, a culvert slope of 1%, a stream width ratio of 1.8 and an outlet drop of 0.24m (Table 5.36). Water temperature was 15\(^\circ\)C, pH was 6.8 and conductivity was 140uS/cm.

A survey was conducted with a remotely piloted aircraft immediately upstream and downstream of the crossing. The resulting images were stitched into a 3-dimensional model (4cm resolution) covering an area of approximatley 12ha presented in Figure 5.39 and downloadable as a google earth kmz file here.

Figure 5.39: Interactive 3D model of habitat immediately upstream and downstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.

Stream Characteristics Downstream

The stream was surveyed downstream from the culvert for 300m (Figures 5.41 - 5.42). Overall, total cover amount was rated as moderate with overhanging vegetation dominant. Cover was also present as small woody debris, large woody debris, undercut banks, deep pools, and instream vegetation (Table 5.38). The average channel width was 3.7m, the average wetted width was 3.2m and the average gradient was 1.1%. The dominant substrate was fines with gravels subdominant. A somewhat recent burn was noted within a forested area on left bank of stream. Habitat was rated as moderate as it was considered an important migration corridor with moderate value habitat for fry/juvenile salmonid rearing.

Stream Characteristics Upstream

The stream was surveyed upstream from 197360 for 1200m (Figures 5.43 - 5.44). Immediately upstream of the crossing for a distance of approximately 150m is a beaver influenced wetland with a beaver dam structure located approximately 40m upstream of the road. Within the area surveyed, total cover amount was rated as moderate with deep pools dominant. Cover was also present as small woody debris, large woody debris, boulders, undercut banks, and overhanging vegetation (Table 5.38). The average channel width was 3.3m, the average wetted width was 1.8m and the average gradient was 2.7%. Abundant gravels and small cobbles suitable for resident, fluvial, adfluvial and anadromous salmonid spawning were present throughout the area surveyed. Habitat value was rated as high for salmonid rearing and spawning.

PSCIS culvert 197669 was documented on Riddeck Creek, 1.2km upstream of the FSR and PSCIS crossing 197360. The culvert was un-embedded, non-backwatered and considered a barrier to upstream fish passage. The pipe was 1.25m in diameter with a pipe length of 6m, a culvert slope of 2%, a stream width ratio of 2.1 and an outlet drop of 0.45m (Table 5.37).

Table 5.39 presents preliminary fish passage modelling data for crossing 197360 with spawning and rearing habitat estimated for chinook, coho, sockeye and steelhead. Modelled estimates of the total length of salmon or steelhead habitat upstream of the crossing before potential barriers are 0.6km of potential spawning habitat and 1.4km of potential rearing habitat.

Fish Sampling

To assess potential impacts of the culvert on fisheries values in the stream, electrofishing was conducted upstream and downstream of the crossing. Two sites were sampled upstream and one site was sampled downstream. A total of 14 rainbow trout captured upstream with 2 rainbow trout captured downstream. Raw results are included in digital format as Attachment 2 and summarized in Tables 5.40 - 5.41 and Figure 5.40.

Structure Remediation and Cost Estimate

Structure replacement with a bridge (10m span) is recommended to provide access to the habitat located upstream of PSCIS crossing 197360. In addition to not facilitating high velocities and erosion due resulting from flow constriction, structures with large openings in relation to stream channel size have been demonstrated to reduce the likelyhood of structure blockage due to beaver (Jensen et al. 2001). The cost of the work is estimated at $125,000 for a cost benefit of 9.6 linear m/$1000 and 31.7m²/$1000.

Conclusion

There is 1.2km of habitat upstream of crossing 197360 and downstream of PSCIS barrier culvert 197669. Habitat in this area was rated as high value for salmonid rearing/spawning. Remediation of PSCIS culvert 197669 would facilitate fish passage to an additional 1.5km of habitat upstream of the area surveyed and can also be considered in the future. Densities of rainbow trout fry captured at upstream sites were higher than the density of fish captured downstream however this may have been a result of habitat differences and difficult electrofishing conditions downstream including thick shrub overhead cover and areas deep water. Although only rainbow trout were captured both upstream and downstream the stream contains habitat likely suitable for spawning and rearing for other species including lamprey, burbot, coho salmon and others. In order to delineate pre-road channel locations/conditions and to inform the positioning of a replacement bridge, a pre-road hydrology assessment could be undertaken. Morice-Owen FSR is the responsibility of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development. The crossing was ranked as a high priority for proceeding to design for replacement.

Table 5.36: Summary of fish passage assessment for PSCIS crossing 197360.

Location and Stream Data		Crossing Characteristics	–
Date	2020-09-05	Crossing Sub Type	Round Culvert
PSCIS ID	197360	Diameter (m)	1.2
External ID	–	Length (m)	27
Crew	AI, KP	Embedded	No
UTM Zone	9	Depth Embedded (m)	–
Easting	649936	Resemble Channel	No
Northing	5992406	Backwatered	No
Stream	Riddeck Creek	Percent Backwatered	–
Road	Morice-Owen FSR	Fill Depth (m)	2.5
Road Tenure	FLNR Nadina 9947	Outlet Drop (m)	0.24
Channel Width (m)	2.2	Outlet Pool Depth (m)	1.6
Stream Slope (%)	1.5	Inlet Drop	No
Beaver Activity	Yes	Slope (%)	1
Habitat Value	High	Valley Fill	Deep Fill
Final score	29	Barrier Result	Barrier
Fix type	Replace with New Open Bottom Structure	Fix Span / Diameter	10
Photos: From top left clockwise: Road/Site Card, Barrel, Outlet, Downstream, Upstream, Inlet.
Comments: Wetland type habitat for first 300m upstream then 3m wide channel with cover available in all forms with pools suitable for juvenile RB and CO overwintering. Abundant gravels and small cobbles throught suitable for CO or RB/ST spawning.

Table 5.37: Summary of fish passage assessment for PSCIS crossing 197669.

Location and Stream Data		Crossing Characteristics	–
Date	2020-09-05	Crossing Sub Type	Round Culvert
PSCIS ID	197669	Diameter (m)	1.25
External ID	14000079	Length (m)	6
Crew	AI, KP	Embedded	No
UTM Zone	9	Depth Embedded (m)	–
Easting	650567	Resemble Channel	No
Northing	5993274	Backwatered	No
Stream	Riddeck Creek	Percent Backwatered	–
Road	Private	Fill Depth (m)	0.3
Road Tenure	unclassified	Outlet Drop (m)	0.45
Channel Width (m)	2.6	Outlet Pool Depth (m)	0.7
Stream Slope (%)	4	Inlet Drop	No
Beaver Activity	No	Slope (%)	2
Habitat Value	High	Valley Fill	Deep Fill
Final score	31	Barrier Result	Barrier
Fix type	Replace with New Open Bottom Structure	Fix Span / Diameter	10
Photos: From top left clockwise: Road/Site Card, Barrel, Outlet, Downstream, Upstream, Inlet.
Comments: Extensive rearing habitat and gravels suitable for spawning. Stream eventually flows into top end of Owen Lake.

Table 5.38: Summary of habitat details for PSCIS crossing 197360.

Site	Location	Length Surveyed (m)	Channel Width (m)	Wetted Width (m)	Pool Depth (m)	Gradient (%)	Total Cover	Habitat Value
197360	Downstream	300	3.7	3.2	0.6	1.1	moderate	moderate
197360	Upstream	1200	3.3	1.8	0.4	2.7	moderate	high

Table 5.39: Summary of fish habitat modelling for PSCIS crossing 197360.

Habitat	Potential	Remediation Gain	Remediation Gain (%)
Salmon Network (km)	6.6	1.1	17
Salmon Lake Reservoir (ha)	1.3	0.0	0
Salmon Wetland (ha)	84.9	79.9	94
Steelhead Network (km)	6.7	1.1	16
Steelhead Lake Reservoir (ha)	1.3	0.0	0
Steelhead Wetland (ha)	84.9	79.9	94
CH Spawning (km)	0.3	0.3	100
CH Rearing (km)	0.6	0.6	100
CO Spawning (km)	1.5	0.6	40
CO Rearing (km)	2.1	1.2	57
CO Rearing (ha)	79.9	–	–
SK Spawning (km)	0.0	0.0	–
SK Rearing (km)	0.0	0.0	–
SK Rearing (ha)	–	–	–
ST Spawning (km)	0.3	0.3	100
ST Rearing (km)	2.1	0.7	33
All Spawning (km)	1.5	0.6	40
All Rearing (km)	3.5	1.4	40
All Spawning and Rearing (km)	3.5	1.4	40
* Model data is preliminary and subject to adjustments.

Table 5.40: Electrofishing sites for PSCIS crossing 197360.

Site	Location	Width (m)	Length (m)	Area (m2)	Effort (s)	Effort (s/m2)
57	Downstream	2.0	9	18	94	5.2
55	Upstream	1.9	20	38	48	1.3
56	Upstream	2.0	10	20	33	1.6

Table 5.41: Rainbow trout densities (fish/100m2) for PSCIS crossing 197360.

Site	Location	Species	Fry	Juvenile
57	Downstream	RB	11.1	0
55	Upstream	RB	15.8	0
56	Upstream	RB	30	10

Figure 5.40: Densites of rainbow trout (fish/100m2) capture upstream and downstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.

Figure 5.41: Typical habitat downstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.

Figure 5.42: Aerial view of typical habitat downstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.

Figure 5.43: Typical habitat upstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.

Figure 5.44: Rainbow trout captured upstream of PSCIS crossing 197360.