Creston students and community members joined the Creston Valley Rod and Gun Club today, October 23, to release over 60,000 fertilized Kokanee salmon eggs into Summit Creek and Goat River, on the south arm of Kootenay Lake as a significant step in the Return of the Salmon Project.
The event is part of a two-year program to restore the salmon population to Kootenay Lake and improve the local ecosystem.
“The whole Kootenay Lake Gerrard system has kind of collapsed, their main food is the Kokanee Salmon,” said Brian Huscroft, President of the Creston Valley Rod and Gun Club.
“So, ideally they want lots of Kokanee salmon, so it keeps the fish a little bit smaller and then it’s really good feed for the world-famous Gerrard.”
“As their numbers went down then the Gerrards numbers, they got sick and there was a lot of older skinny fish and then they got infected with worms, so their health just went down.”
“We’re just trying to bring back to what it used to be like.”
Over 100 students from three schools were treated to educational activities focusing on the importance of preserving the land, waterway and our ecosystems.
“The kids are our future,” said Huscroft.
“By showing them what is going on, hopefully, they will maintain an interest and understand the importance of wildlife species.”
The event included the unveiling of three large interpretive signs featuring colourful artwork by the Yaqan Nu?kiy community member Carol Louie.
“The project is a great example of how groups working together and sharing knowledge have helped contribute to the return of Kokanee salmon in Kootenay Lake.” said Band Councilor, Robin Louie.
The event was in collaboration with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, Wildsight Creston, and the Lower Kootenay Band.
Background Information on Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake has been an angler’s paradise for generations. People have come to the West Kootenays from around the globe seeking the famed Giants of Gerrard – the largest rainbow trout in the world. Trophy Gerrard have been known to tip the scales at 14 kg (30 lbs). The largest ever caught in Kootenay Lake, back in 1976, weighed in at 16 kg (35.5 lbs).
Gerrard rainbow trout feed primarily on protein-rich Kokanee salmon, which accounts for their record[1]setting weights. Kokanee salmon populations began to decline significantly in 2014 when biologists observed a dramatic drop in the number of spawning Kokanee.
The primary causes of the decline were attributed to increased predation on Kokanee by rising Gerrard and Bull trout populations. As the Kokanee population declined, the Giants of Gerrard lost their once abundant food source and began to grow considerably smaller.
In its heyday, the Gerrard Fishery generated approximately $6 million annually in direct angler expenditures. This dropped significantly with the depletion of the Kootenay salmon population, and the Gerrard were no longer sought after as trophy fish. This had a measurable negative impact on tourism and the small businesses along the lake that depended on it.
Thanks to a provincial grant the Creston Valley Rod & Gun Club has undertaken a two-year project to replenish the depleted stocks. Once Kokanee are again abundant in the lake, the Giants of Gerrard are expected to follow. Kootenay Lake salmon recovery is led and managed by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS).
The Rod & Gun Club is responsible for managing the Return of the Kokanee Salmon Project, partnering with WLRS for technical expertise, and relying on the Lower Kootenay Band for supplying invaluable knowledge of the lake’s fish stocks and health.
The project, which began in 2023, involved the collection of surplus Kokanee salmon eggs in early September, followed by incubation of eggs at a Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC hatchery. The release of eggs occurred in late October on Summit Creek in the South Arm of the lake. Eggs were also released into the Meadow Creek Spawning Channel (managed by WLRS) in the North Arm. One hundred per cent of the eggs in the spawning channel hatched to fry. Due to unforeseen environmental events, the eggs in the South Arm weren’t as successful but mitigation plans are underway for 2024 .
A suite of educational and community activities are also underway to promote public understanding of how taking care of Kokanee salmon not only helps nature, but supports fishing, tourism, and recreation.
On September 12, interpretive signage was installed at the Balfour and Kootenay Bay ferry terminals on Kootenay Lake. Featuring colorful artwork, by Yaqan Nu?kiy community member, Carol Louie, the signs describe the historical significance of Kokanee salmon to the Lower Kootenay Band who consider the Kokanee to be the “Leader of the Water.” Also depicted is the collapse of fish stock and the many groups involved in the current recovery.
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