Data Download and Methods

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Connectivity Status Assessment Methods

The connectivity status assessment for Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the Elk River watershed builds on existing connectivity modelling work undertaken by the BC Fish Passage Technical Working Group, resulting in a flexible, customizable open-source spatial model called “bcfishpass”. The model spatially locates known and modelled barriers to fish passage, identifies potential spawning and rearing habitat for Westslope Cutthroat Trout, and estimates the amount of habitat that is currently accessible as part of the Longest Fragment for each WCRP unit. The Longest Fragment approach is adapted from (Díaz & Habit (2021)) and is calculated as the ratio between the length of largest connected set of habitat patches and the total length of all habitat patches in each WCRP unit. In the Elk River watershed, the longest fragment represents the mainstem Elk River and all currently connected tributaries, both upstream and downstream of the Elko Dam. As such, meeting the connectivity goals set in this plan requires prioritizing barriers for rehabilitaton that will reconnect tributaries to the existing longest fragments see barrier prioritzation.

The model uses an adapted version of the Intrinsic Potential (IP) fish habitat modelling framework (see Sheer et al. (2009) for an overview of the IP framework). The habitat model uses two geomorphic characteristics of the stream network — channel gradient and mean annual discharge — to identify potential spawning habitat and rearing habitat for focal species. For the purposes of this plan, rearing habitat is used as an umbrella term to capture the requirements for Westslope Cutthroat Trout rearing, maintenance, and overwintering habitat. The habitat model does not attempt to definitively map each habitat type nor estimate habitat quality, but rather identifies stream segments that have high potential to support spawning or rearing habitat for Westslope Cutthroat Trout based on the geomorphic characteristics of the segment. For more details on the connectivity and habitat model structure and parameters, please see (Mazany-Wright, Norris, Lapointe, & Rebellato (2021a)). The variables and thresholds used to model potential spawning and rearing habitat are summarized below. The quantity of modelled habitat was aggregated for each habitat type to inform the two KEAs — Accessible Habitat Upstream of Elko Dam and Accessible Habitat Downstream of Elko Dam — and represents a linear measure of potential habitat. To recognize the rearing value provided by features represented by polygons (e.g., lakes for overwintering) a multiplier of 1.5x the length of the stream segments flowing through the polygons was applied.

Table 1:

Parameters and thresholds used to inform the Intrinsic Potential habitat model for spawning and rearing habitat for Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the Elk River watershed.

Species	Channel Gradient (%)(Naturally Accessible Waterbodies	Spawning Habitat Channel Gradient (%)	Spawning Habitat Mean annual discharge (m3/s)	Rearing Habitat Channel gradient (%)	Rearing Habitat Mean Annual discharge (m3/s)	Rearing Habitat Minimum Lake area (ha)	Rearing Habitat Multiplier (1.5x)
Westslope Cutthroat Trout	0-20	0-5 [1][2]	0.05-76 [1][3][4]	0-7 [2]	0.02-30 [3][4]		Lake

References: [1] Magee & McMahon (1996). [2] Peterson D. P. & Young. (2008). [3] Bennett (2004). [4] COSEWIC (2016).

Other tables

Table 2:

Non-Actionable structres

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Structure Type	Reason	Notes	Supporting Links
197796	4601984	Tributary to Lodgepole Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	Short habitat gain	Impassable falls (2.3 m high) approx 60 m upstream. Steep sections >15% with multiple drops > 1 m	https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_elk_2021_reporting/appendix---197796---tributary-to-lodgepole-creek.html

Table 3:

Excluded structures

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Structure Type	Reason For Exclusion	Method Of Exclusion	Reason	Notes	Supporting Links
1004605216	4605216	Tributary to Wigwam River	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	Crossing does not exist
1004606284	4606284	Fording River	Unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Informal assessment	Ford	Confirmed via literature: Cope et al. (2016)
1024735443	24735443	Abruzzi Creek	Trail	None	No structure	Local knowledge	No crossing	Recreational trail erroneously mapped in Digital Road Atlas
197527	4605697	Crossing Creek	Elk River FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Low quality habitat, confirmed with Working Group	Dry channel at time of assessment, transitions into grass flats 60 m downstream of crossing.	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198427
197782	4602359	Rabbit Creek	Unknown	Stream crossing - OBS	Passable	Field assessment	Collapsed bridge but not blocking flows		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198802
197783	4605937	Tributary to Wigwam River	Wigwam Forest Service Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Low quality habitat	Dry with poorly defined channel downstream	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198803
197785	4606129	Tributary to Wigwam River	R08380-10	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	No channel	Snowshoe Lake drains to basin upstream with no visible channel between lake and road	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198805
197789	4603791	Tributary to Lodgepole Creek	Unnamed	Other	No structure	Field assessment	Bridge has been removed	No issues	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198809
197790	4606411	Tributary to Lodgepole Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	No issues	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198810
197792	4605499	Tributary to Bean Creek	Cabin Creek FSR	Stream crossing - OBS	Passable	Field assessment	Bridge		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198812
197793	4606347	Bean Creek	Lodgepole FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Low quality habitat. Winter habitat assessments revealed low habitat values. Dewatered in summer and winter. No sutiable habitat to support most life stages.		https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_elk_2021_reporting/appendix---197793---bean-creek.html Also see: VAST. 2023. Elk River Westslope Cutthroat Trout passage and habitat investigations. Prepared for Canadian Wildlife Federation by VAST Resource Solutions Inc., Cranbrook, B.C.
197794	4603480	Bean Creek	Utility line	Stream crossing - OBS	Passable	Field assessment	Bridge		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198814
197795	24733953	Tributary to Lodgepole Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - OBS	Passable	Field assessment	Bridge		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198815
197797	4603553	Bighorn Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Crossing removed	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198817
197803	4602514	Harmer Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Bridge may have been recently removed	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198823
197805		Tributary To Harmer Creek	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	No crossing		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198825
197816		Weigert Creek	Weigert FSR	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198836
197818	4606007	Weigert Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Road deactivated	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198840
197820	24735049	Weigert Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Road deactivated	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198838
197821	4606545	Cummings Creek	Cummings Creek FSR	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	ATV trail	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198841
197823	24706614	Henretta Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Located approx 60 m downstream of modeled location	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198844
197826	4603334	Fording River	Unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198846
197837	4602163	Morrissey Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198857
197838	4601704	Morrissey Creek	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	No crossing	Road not detectable in field	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198858
197839		McCool Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford	Well-used ford. Actual crossing location 11U 648220 5499799	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198859
197846		Tribtary to Ewin Creek	Unnaed	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Fored	Road deactivated	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198866
197847	4600533	Chauncey Creek	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	No structure		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198867
197861	4602646	Tributary to Wigwam River	Wigwam Lookout Trail	None	No structure	Field assessment	No crossing		https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198881
197867	4606926	Bighorn Creek	Spur	Stream crossing - Ford	Passable	Field assessment	Ford		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198887
da28f1e5-4fb1-43cd-ac85-123d6735677e		Boivin Creek	n/a	Dam	Passable	Field assessment	Located off channel. Not a barrier		https://www.newgraphenvironment.com/fish_passage_elk_2021_reporting/results-and-discussion.html
1004603432		Tributary to Cadorna Creek	trail	None	No structure	Local knowledge	No crossing	Confirmed to not exist by BC Parks. Recreational trail erroneously mapped in Digital Road Atlas
1004605338		Tributary to Wigwam River	Unnamed	None	No structure and key upstream habitat	Field assessment	No crossing, no channel	Dry area with no channel
112336		Tributary to Alexander Creek	Alexander Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Limited habitat value	Improperly mapped on mainstem. Located on tributary with limited habitat value.	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=112516
1004603793		Lodgepole Creek	unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	Crossing removed

Bennett, S. (2004). Westslope cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarki lewisi). Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife - accounts v. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/natural- resource-policy-legislation/accounts-measures-for-managing-identified- wildlife/fish_westslope_cutthroat_trout.pdf.

COSEWIC. (2016). COSEWIC assessment and status report on the westslope cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi), saskatchewan-nelson river populations and pacific populations, in canada. Committeee on the status of endangered wildlife in canada, ottawa, ontario. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/cosewic-assessments-status-reports/westslope-cutthroat-trout-2016.html.: ECC.

Díaz, K. G., G., & Habit, E. (2021). The longest fragment drives fish beta diversity in fragmented river networks: Implications for river management and conservation. Science of the total environment 766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144323.

Magee, J. P., & McMahon, T. E. (1996). Spatial variation in spawning habitat of cutthroat trout in a sediment-rich stream basin. Transactions of the american fisheries society 125: 768-779.

Mazany-Wright, N., Norris, S. M., Lapointe, N. W. R., & Rebellato, B. (2021a). A freshwater connectivity modelling framework to support barrier prioritization and remediation in british columbia. Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Peterson D. P., J. B. D., B. E. Rieman, & Young., M. K. (2008). Analysis of trade-offs between threats and invasion by nonnative brook trout (salvelinus frontalis) and intentional isolation for native westslope cutthroat trout (oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi). Canadian Journal of Fisheries; Aquatic Sciences 65: 557-573.

Sheer, M. B., Busch, D. S., Gilbert, E., Bayer, J. M., Lanigan, S., Schei, J. L., … Miller, D. (2009). Development and management of fish intrinsic potential data and methodologies: State of the IP 2008 summary report. Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership Series 2009—4, 56 pp.