Data Download and Methods

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Connectivity Status Assessment Methods

The connectivity status assessment for anadromous salmonids in the Lower Nicola 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 focal species, and estimates the amount of habitat that is currently accessible to focal species. 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 each focal species. 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 each species based on the geomorphic characteristics of the segment. For more details on the connectivity and habitat model structure and parameters, please see Mazany-Wright, N and Norris, S. M. and Lapointe, N. W. R. and Rebellato, B. (2021a). The variables and thresholds used to model potential spawning and rearing habitat for each focal species are summarized in Table 1. The quantity of modelled habitat for each species was aggregated for each habitat type and represents a linear measure of potential habitat. To recognize the rearing value provided by features represented by polygons for certain species (e.g., wetlands for Coho Salmon and lakes for Sockeye Salmon) 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 each focal species in the Lower Nicola River watershed.

Species	Channel Gradient (%) (Naturally Accessible Waterbodies)	Channel Gradient (%) (Spawning Habitat)	Mean annual discharge (m3/s) (Spawning Habitat)	Channel Gradient (%) (Rearing Habitat)	Mean annual discharge (m3/s) (Rearing Habitat)	Minimum Lake area (ha) (Rearing Habitat)	Multiplier (1.5x) (Rearing Habitat)
Chinook Salmon	0-15	0-3 [1] [2]	0.46-322.5 [3][4][5][6][7]	0-5 [5][8]	0.28-100 [9]
Coho Salmon	0-15	0-5 [6][10]	0.164-59.15 [3][4][5][10][11]	0-5 [8][12]	0.03-40 [9][13]		Wetland
Sockeye Salmon	0-15	0-2 [14][15]	0.175-65 [3][4][5][6]			200 [5]	Lake
Steelhead	0-20	0-4 [2][16]	0.447-75 [3][4][6]	0-7.4 [8]	0.02-60 [9][13]

References: [1] Busch et al. (2011). [2] Cooney and Holzer (2006). [3] Bjornn and Reiser (1991). [4] Neuman and Newcombe (1977). [5] Woll, Albert, and Whited (2017). [6] Roberge et al. (2002). [7] Raleigh and Miller (1986). [8] Porter et al. (2008). [9] Agrawal et al. (2005). [10] Sloat, Reeves, and Christiansen (2017). [11] Mcmahon (1983). [12] Rosenfeld, Porter, and Parkinson (2000). [13] Burnett et al. (2007). [14] Lake (1999). [15] Hoopes (1972).

Other tables

Table 2:

Non-Actionable structres

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Structure Type	Reason	Notes	Supporting Links

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
1011300844	11300844	Voght Creek	Highway 5	Other	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls downstream	Not accessible to anadromous salmonids. Crossing not assessed.
1011302471	11302471	Voght Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls dwonstream	Not accessible to anadrmous salmonids. Crossing not assesed.
196957	11300867	Brook Creek	Kettle Valley Railway	None	No structure	Field assessment	Passable	Burned out bridge has collpased but is not impeding passage.
196997	11300768	Howarth Creek	Kane Valley Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls downstream		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=197617
197014	11300916	Midday Creek	Patchett Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Upstream of inaccessible wetland	Crossing scores as barrier but contains low quality rearing habitat suitable for Rainbow Trout only. No spawning or overwintering habitat. Fish population abundant due to stocking in Lily Lake upstream.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200146
197036	11301822	Midday Creek	Lily Lake Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Upstream of inaccessible wetland.	Crossing scores as barrier but contains rearing habitat suitable for Rainbow Trout only. Overwintering habitat in outlet pool only. Rainbow Trout present upstream and downstream of crossing.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200147
197039	11300400	Kwinshatin Creek	Coldwater Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	No suitable spawning habitat for salmon, excellent rearing habitat but too steep to access from Coldwater River.	Opportunistic Rainbow Trout spawning habitat present and 70 mm-200 mm Rainbow Trout common in stream. Possible RB/CT hybrid also present. Culvert is curved in middle and undersized.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198909
197694	24713788	Prospect Creek	Prospect Creek FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls downstream	Not accessible to anadromous salmonids; however, high-quality habitat may be worth pursuing r for non-focal species.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198962
197695	24713781	Prospect Creek	Prospect Creek FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls downstream	Not accessible to anadromous salmonids; however, high-quality habitat may be worth pursuing r for non-focal species.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198961
197696	11305711	Prospect Creek	Prospect Creek FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Local knowledge	Impassable falls downstream	GPS coordinates incorrect	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198596
197880	11301738	Stumbles Creek	Private	Stream crossing - CBS	Passable	Field assessment	Passable	Passable to adult fish at all flows and to all juvenile Coho at low flows; 87.5% of juvenile Coho at higher flows.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200140
197883	11301743	Stumbles Creek	Private	Stream crossing - CBS	Passable	Field assessment	Passable	Passable to adult fish at all flows and to all juvenile Coho at low flows; 87.5% of juvenile Coho at higher flows.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200142
197891	11304291	Brook Creek	Kettle Valley Railway	None	No structure	Field assessment	Passable	Burned out bridge has collapsed but is not causing any passage issues.
198881	11300797	Midday Creek	2000th Street	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Upstream of inaccessible wetland	Crossing scores as barrier but contains low quality rearing habitat suitable for Rainbow Trout only. No spawning or overwintering habitat.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200161
198882	11303627	Midday Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Habitat unsuitable for salmonids (though 1 Rainbow Trout captured). Organic bed likely leads to oxygen depletion in summer.	Culvert is a barrier. Slow flows through summer. Abundant Sucker presence.	https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200162
198883	11303791	Midday Creek	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	Crossing does not exist		http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200163
55cd5d66-5bef-446f-bce3-8b097d001454		Midday Creek	n/a	Dam	Passable	Field assessment	Passable	Partial earthen dam with open channel at south end.
d0fe7d87-bba1-4edb-b132-01bdeccd7277		Midday Creek	n/a	Dam	No key upstream habitat	Field assessment	Upstream of inaccessible wetland	Area flooded by beavers. Unclear whether dam exists.
197890		Brook Creek	Kettle Valley Railway	None	Passable	Field assessment	Passable	Burned out bridge with debris in stream but not blocking passage.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198910
1011301807		Brook Creek	Unnamed	None	No structure	Field assessment	Crossing does not exist	No road observed

Agrawal, A., R. S. Schick, E. P. Bjorkstedt, R. G. Szerlong, M. N. Goslin, B. C. Spence, T. H. Williams, and K. M. Burnett. 2005. Predicting the Potential for Historical Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead Habitat in Northern California. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Bjornn, T. C., and D. W. Reiser. 1991. “Habitat Requirements of Salmonids in Streams.” Influences of Forest and Rangeland Management on Salmonid Fishes and Their Habitats 19: 83–138.

Burnett, Kelly M., Gordon H. Reeves, Daniel J. Miller, Sharon Clarke, Ken Vance-Borland, and Kelly Christiansen. 2007. “Distribution of Salmon-Habitat Potential Relative to Landscape Characteristics and Implications for Conservation.” Ecol. Appl. 17 (1): 66–80.

Busch, D. S., M. Sheer, K. Burnett, P. Mcelhany, and T. Cooney. 2011. “Landscape-Level Model to Predict Spawning Habitat for Lower Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha).” River Research Applications 29: 291–312.

Cooney, T., and D Holzer. 2006. Appendix c: Interior Columbia Basin Stream Type Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Populations: Habitat Intrinsic Potential Analysis. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Northwest Fisheries Center: Northwest Fisheries Center.

Hoopes, D. T. 1972. “Selection of Spawning Sites by Sockeye in Small Streams.” U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service Fishery Bulletin 70: 447–58.

Lake, R. G. 1999. Activity and Spawning Behaviour in Spawning Sockeye Salmon. Thesis. UBC.

Mazany-Wright, N and Norris, S. M. and Lapointe, N. W. R. and Rebellato, B. 2021a. “A Freshwater Connectivity Modelling Framework to Support Barrier Prioritization and Remediation in British Columbia.” Canadian Wildlife Federation, 2021a.

Mcmahon, T. E. 1983. “Habitat Suitability Index Models: Coho Salmon.” U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service 29.

Neuman, H. R., and C. P. Newcombe. 1977. Minimum Acceptable Stream Flows in British Columbia: A Review. Fisheries Management Report No. 70.

Porter, M., D. Pickard, K. Wieckowski, and K. Bryan. 2008. Developing Fish Habitat Models for Broad-Scale Forest Planning in the Southern Interior of B.C. ESSA Technologies Ltd.; B.C. Ministry of Environment.

Raleigh, R. F., and W. J. Miller. 1986. Habitat Suitability Index Models and Instream Flow Suitability Curves: Chinook Salmon. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Reports 82. USFW.

Roberge, M., J. B. M. Hume, C. K. Minns, and T. Slaney. 2002. Life History Characteristics of Freshwater Fishes Occurring in British Columbia and the Yukon, with Major Emphasis on Stream Habitat Characteristics. Cultus Lake, British Columbia: Fisheries; Oceans Canada, Marine Environment; Habitat Science Division.

Rosenfeld, Jordan, Marc Porter, and Eric Parkinson. 2000. “Habitat Factors Affecting the Abundance and Distribution of Juvenile Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki) and Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus Kisutch).” Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 57 (4): 766–74.

Sheer, M. B., D. S. Busch, E. Gilbert, J. M. Bayer, S. Lanigan, J. L. Schei, K. M. Burnett, and D. Miller. 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.

Sloat, Matthew R., Gordon H. Reeves, and Kelly R. Christiansen. 2017. “Stream Network Geomorphology Mediates Predicted Vulnerability of Anadromous Fish Habitat to Hydrologic Change in Southeast Alaska.” Glob. Chang. Biol. 23 (2): 604–20.

Woll, C., D. Albert, and D. Whited. 2017. A Preliminary Classification and Mapping of Salmon Ecological Systems in the Nushagak and Kvichak Watersheds. Alaska: The Nature Conservancy.