Key Ecological Attributes and Connectivity Status Results

Current Connectivity Status

The Planning Team devised three Key Ecological Attributes (KEAs) and associated indicators to assess the current connectivity status of the watershed – Accessible Off-channel Thermal Refuge, Accessible Spawning Habitat, and Accessible Rearing Habitat. KEAs are the key aspects of anadromous salmonid ecology that are being targeted by this WCRP. The connectivity status for the Anadromous Salmonids KEAs were used to establish goals to improve habitat connectivity in the watershed and will be the baseline against which progress is tracked over time.

To support a flexible prioritization framework to identify priority barriers in the watershed, two assumptions are made: 1) any modelled (i.e., passability status is unknown) or partial barriers are treated as complete barriers to passage and 2) the habitat modelling is binary, it does not assign any habitat quality values. As such, the current connectivity status is refined over time as more data on habitat and barriers are collected.

Table 5. Connectivity status assessment for thermal refuge (a), spawning (b), and rearing (c) habitat in the Lower Nicola River watershed. The Accessible Spawning Habitat and Accessible Rearing Habitat KEAs are evaluated by dividing the length of linear habitat (of each type) that is currently accessible to target species by the total length of all linear habitat (of each type) in the watershed.
a

Focal Species

KEA

Indicator

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Pacific Salmon and steelhead

Available Off-channel Thermal Refuge

Total Area (m^2) of off-channel thermal refuge available

?

?

?

?

Current Status:

Comments: A priority strategy is to develop an off-channel habitat layer for the watershed to be used to inform connectivity status in the future.

b

Focal Species

KEA

Indicator

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Pacific Salmon and steelhead

Available Spawning Habitat

% of total linear spawning habitat accessible

<25%

25-50

50-75%

>75%

Current Status:

91.46%

Comments: Indicator rating definitions are based on the consensus decisions of the Planning Team. The current status is based on the WCRP model output, which is current as of May 2026.

c

Focal Species

KEA

Indicator

Poor

Fair

Good

Very Good

Pacific Salmon and steelhead

Available rearing Habitat

% of total linear rearing habitat accessible

<25%

25-50

50-75%

>75%

Current Status:

93.74%

Comments: Indicator rating definitions are based on the consensus decisions of the Planning Team. The current status is based on the WCRP model output, which is current as of May 2026.

In the Lower Nicola River watershed, 377.18 km of spawning habitat are currently connected to the ocean and 5.47 km are disconnected from it. This means that 98.6% of the 382.64 km of total habitat is connected.

In the Lower Nicola River watershed, 397.28 km of rearing habitat are currently connected to the ocean and 15.05 km are disconnected from it. This means that 96.4% of the 412.33 km of total habitat is connected.

Goals

Table 6. Goals to improve (1) off-channel thermal refuge, (2) spawning, and (3) rearing habitat connectivity for Pacific salmon and steelhead in the Lower Nicola River watershed over the lifespan of the WCRP (2021-2031). The goals were established through discussions with the Planning Team and represent the resulting desired state of connectivity in the watershed. The goals are subject to change as more information and data are collected over the course of the plan timeline (e.g., the current connectivity status is updated based on barrier field assessments).

Goal #

Goal

1

By 2031, the total area of groundwater-serviced off-channel thermal refuge accessible to anadromous salmonids will increase by 6,000 m2 in the Lower Nicola River watershed.

2

By 2025, the % of total linear spawning habitat accessible to anadromous salmonids will not decrease below 96% in the Lower Nicola River watershed.

3

% of total linear rearing habitat accessible to anadromous salmonids will increase from 83% to 90% within the Lower Nicola River watershed.

Structure Count

In the Lower Nicola River watershed, 18 structures potentially disconnect spawning habitat. Of these, 2 are identified as barriers in need of rehabilitation (priority barriers), 2 are identified as barriers that do not warrant rehabilitation (non-actionable), and 14 require further field assessment.

In the Lower Nicola River watershed, 25 structures potentially disconnect rearing habitat. Of these, 2 are identified as barriers in need of rehabilitation (priority barriers), 5 are identified as barriers that do not warrant rehabilitation (non-actionable), and 18 require further field assessment.

Maps

Figure 5: Map of spawning habitat and structures that are confirmed or potential barriers to fish passage in the Lower Nicola River watershed as of May 2026. Structure data were obtained from BCFishPass and the Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database (aquaticbarriers.ca). The accessibility model represents areas of the watershed that one or more species of Pacific salmon and steelhead could access naturally in the absence of anthropogenic barriers. The habitat model represents the subset of accessible waterbodies that may be used by one or more species of Pacific salmon and steelhead for spawning or rearing. Available local knowledge and data were incorporated and overruled habitat model results. Thick red lines represent habitat considered to be fully disconnected (upstream of barriers or unassessed structures). Barriers that were rehabilitated through implementation of this plan are shown, but other excluded structures (e.g., those found to be passable) are not.

Figure 6: Map of rearing habitat and structures that are confirmed or potential barriers to fish passage in the Lower Nicola River watershed as of May 2026. Structure data were obtained from BCFishPass and the Canadian Aquatic Barriers Database (aquaticbarriers.ca). The accessibility model represents areas of the watershed that one or more species of Pacific salmon and steelhead could access naturally in the absence of anthropogenic barriers. The habitat model represents the subset of accessible waterbodies that may be used by one or more species of Pacific salmon and steelhead for spawning or rearing. Available local knowledge and data were incorporated and overruled habitat model results. Thick red lines represent habitat considered to be fully disconnected (upstream of barriers or unassessed structures). Barriers that were rehabilitated through implementation of this plan are shown, but other excluded structures (e.g., those found to be passable) are not.

Habitat Accumulation Curves

Figure 7: Habitat Accumulation Curve (HAC) showing structures in the Lower Nicola River watershed as of May 2026. Structures are ranked based on how much (km) of habitat for Pacific salmon and steelhead is upstream. The y-axis represents the cumulative amount of potential habitat gain (km). Sets of structures are indicated by a grey line below the curve, indicating that gains from addressing the downstream structure alone would be less than the combined gains from addressing all structures in the set. Habitat upstream of unassessed structures is considered disconnected until field assessments are completed. Structures that were excluded as passable are not shown; however, rehabilitated barriers are shown to demonstrate the connectivity gains achieved through implementation of this plan.

Habitat Accumulation Summary Table

Table 7: Labelled structures in the Habitat Accumulation Curve (Figure 1), their rank, and upstream spawning and rearing habitat for Pacific Salmon and steelhead in The Lower Nicola River watershed. Habitat gain (averaged across sets) represents the amount (km) of habitat upstream of that structure to the next structure and depicts the potential gain in habitat if passage at that structure was restored.

Barrier ID

Site Name

Watershed Name*

Structure Status

Structure Count Ordered by Model Rank - Spawning and Rearing

Average Habitat Upstream of Structure - Spawning and Rearing

Actual Habitat Upstream of Structure - Spawning and Rearing

Structure Count Ordered by Model Rank - Spawning

Average Habitat Upstream of Structure - Spawning

Actual Habitat Upstream of Structure - Spawning

Structure Count Ordered by Model Rank - Rearing

Average Habitat Upstream of Structure - Rearing

Actual Habitat Upstream of Structure - Rearing

1011304238

Skuhun Creek @ Mouth (11304238)

Lower Nicola

Rehabilitated barrier

1

13.09500000

13.43

1

2.805

3.14

1

13.09500000

13.43

197889

Skuhun Creek @ Hwy 8 (197889)

Lower Nicola

Rehabilitated barrier

1

13.09500000

12.76

1

2.805

2.47

1

13.09500000

12.76

197681

Chataway @ Skuhun-Pimanus FSR (197681)

Lower Nicola

Non-actionable barrier

2

2.57500000

0.08

0.000

0.00

2

2.57500000

0.08

6ac0dab8-0785-4e46-ac24-c99d538b05bf

Chataway weir

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

2

2.57500000

5.07

0.000

0.00

2

2.57500000

5.07

196969

Murray Lake Creek (196969)

Lower Nicola

Rehabilitated barrier

3

3.07000000

3.07

0.000

0.00

3

3.07000000

3.07

197882

Stumbles Creek @ private (11304215)

Lower Nicola

Priority barrier

4

1.34500000

0.46

3

1.040

0.47

4

1.34500000

0.46

197884

Stumbles @ Hwy 8 (11300751)

Lower Nicola

Priority barrier

4

1.34500000

2.23

3

1.040

1.61

4

1.34500000

2.23

197013

Midday Cr @ Patchett Rd (197013)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

5

2.33000000

2.33

2

2.330

2.33

5

2.33000000

2.33

203627

Mine Creek at Highway 5 (203627)

Lower Nicola

Non-actionable barrier

6

0.75500000

0.08

8

0.090

0.09

7

0.75500000

0.08

196942

Mine Creek @ Mine Creek Road (196942)

Lower Nicola

Non-actionable barrier

6

0.75500000

1.43

15

0.050

0.05

7

0.75500000

1.43

36b0bcda-4671-45ff-8dea-d1fc8abe3a8d

Clapperton Dam

Lower Nicola

Rehabilitated barrier

7

1.30000000

1.30

4

1.300

1.30

6

1.30000000

1.30

1011302589

Moore Cr @ Private (11302589)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

8

0.44000000

0.44

0.000

0.00

8

0.44000000

0.44

203630

Bottletop Creek @ Hwy 5 (203630)

Lower Nicola

Non-actionable barrier

9

0.24500000

0.08

0.000

0.00

9

0.24500000

0.08

196966

Bottletop Creek @ Juliet Dr (196966)

Lower Nicola

Non-actionable barrier

9

0.24500000

0.41

0.000

0.00

9

0.24500000

0.41

203634

Shackan Creek @ unnamed rd (203634)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

10

0.25000000

0.25

5

0.250

0.25

12

0.08000000

0.08

1011301294

Trib 2 to Coldwater R @ unnamed (11301294)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

11

0.11500000

0.09

6

0.115

0.09

0.00000000

0.00

1011301293

Trib 2 to Coldwater R @ unnamed (11301293)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

11

0.11500000

0.14

6

0.115

0.14

0.00000000

0.00

1011306530

Skuagam Cr @ KVR (11306530)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

12

0.21000000

0.21

7

0.210

0.21

0.00000000

0.00

203629

Trib 1 to Coldwater (203629)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

13

0.06333333

0.00

0.000

0.00

10

0.06333333

0.00

1011302223

Trib 1 to Coldwater R @ private (11302223)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

13

0.06333333

0.00

0.000

0.00

10

0.06333333

0.00

1011300510

Trib 1 to Coldwater R @ Hwy 5 (11300510)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

13

0.06333333

0.19

0.000

0.00

10

0.06333333

0.19

1011300296

Trib 3 to Coldwater R @ Coldwater Rd (11300296)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

14

0.06500000

0.06

0.000

0.00

11

0.06500000

0.06

1011304160

Trib 3 to Coldwater R @ KVR (11304160)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

14

0.06500000

0.07

0.000

0.00

11

0.06500000

0.07

1011301292

Trib 4 to Coldwater R @ unnamed (11301292)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

15

0.07000000

0.07

9

0.070

0.07

0.00000000

0.00

203639

Stumbles Creek @ Unnamed (203639)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

16

0.41000000

0.08

0.000

0.00

15

0.41000000

0.08

203637

Stumbles Creek @ Gravel Pit (203637)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

16

0.41000000

0.74

0.000

0.00

15

0.41000000

0.74

1011300035

Trib 1 to Nicola R @ Petit Cr Rd (11300035)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

17

0.03500000

0.02

10

0.035

0.02

0.00000000

0.00

1011300154

Trib 1 to Nicola R @ Hwy 8 (11300154)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

17

0.03500000

0.05

10

0.035

0.05

0.00000000

0.00

196968

Murray Cr @ Maka Murray FSR (197968)

Lower Nicola

Data-deficient barrier

18

0.04000000

0.04

0.000

0.00

13

0.04000000

0.04

1011302097

Trib 4 to Coldwater R @ Basscoast pkg lot

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

19

0.04000000

0.04

11

0.040

0.04

0.00000000

0.00

1011300145

Lindley Cr @ Shulus Rd (11300145)

Lower Nicola

Unassessed structure

20

0.02000000

0.02

0.000

0.00

14

0.02000000

0.02