Task | Lead for Next Step | Participants | Timeline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Review 2023 and prior field results with WG and advance/reject crossings based on outcomes | CWF | WG | June (2024) | |
Review lateral habitat report with partners working on lateral habitat identification in watershed to refine methods | CWF | Nooaitch, NVIT | June-August 2024 | |
Meet with partners to get feedback on potential for CWF to take a coordination role on thermal refugia habitat mapping, identification and prioritization & identify data gaps; begin coordinating (depending on feedback) | CWF | WG | June-October 2024 | Requires feedback from working group |
Complete barrier removal on Clapperton Creek | CWF | LNIB | July (2024) | |
Complete barrier assessments for next set of crossings | CWF | LNIB, Nooaitch, STC | August (2024) | |
Complete habitat confirmation on Manning Creek | CWF | LNIB, Nooaitch, STC | August (2024) | |
Update model with all current relvant information for Lower Nicola watershed | CWF | WG | December of 2024 | |
Review 2024 assessment results with working group | CWF | WG | January-February 2025 | |
Re-run connectivity models | CWF | February-March 2025 | ||
Develop 2025-2026 work plan | CWF | WG | February-March 2025 | |
Update WCRP based on 2024 field results and partner feedback | CWF | WG | March-April 2025 |
Annual Progress Report
The Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, and Scw’exmx Tribal Council completed in-depth barrier assessments and habitat confirmations at several sites (Stumbles, Kwinshatin, Brook, Murray Lake, Midday creeks). In addition, initial results from CWF’s drone imagery project to identify thermal refugia were developed and reviewed at a working group meeting with program partners in 2023.
Annual Work Plan
Operational Plan
The operational plan represents a preliminary exercise undertaken by the planning team to identify the potential leads, potential participants, and estimated cost for the implementation of each action in the Lower Nicola River watershed. Table 2 summarizes individuals, groups, or organizations that the planning team felt could lead or participate in the implementation of the plan and should be interpreted as the first step in ongoing planning and engagement to develop more detailed and sophisticated action plans for each entry in the table. The individuals, groups, and organizations listed under the “Lead(s)”, or “Potential Participants” columns are those that provisionally expressed interest in participating in one of those roles or were suggested by the planning team for further engagement (denoted in bold), for those that are not members of the planning team. The leads, participants, and estimated costs in the operational plan are not binding nor an official commitment of resources; but rather provide a roadmap for future coordination and engagement during the WCRP implementation.
Strategy / Actions | Lead(s) | Participants | Total Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
Strategy 1: Crossing Rehabilitation | $4,038,000.00 | ||
1.1 – Rehabilitate dykes and berms | CWF, Scw’exmx Tribal Council (STC) | Upper Nicola Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, Shackan Indian Band, Stuwix Resources Joint Venture (SRJV), Coldwater Band, Cooks Ferry Band, Trout Unlimited, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) | $3,600,000.00 |
1.2 – Reconnect channels to thermal refugia | CWF, STC | Upper Nicola Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, Shackan Indian Band, SRJV, Coldwater Band, Cooks Ferry Band, Trout Unlimited, DFO | $288,000.00 |
1.3 – Knowledge Gap: Improve mapping of lateral habitat and thermal refugia | Tom Willms | CWF, Fraser Basin Council | $50,000.00 |
1.4 - Knowledge Gap: Revisit previous rehabilitation and off-channel habitat creation projects to assess whether they are still fish-passable | STC | CWF, Mark Gaboury, DFO, Tom Willms | $100,000.00 |
1.5 - Review LiDAR, aerial imagery, and field assessments to determine immediate lateral connectivity needs. | |||
Strategy 2: Lateral Barrier Rehabilitation | $12,986,140.00 | ||
2.1 – Remove and decommission barriers | CWF, STC | Upper Nicola Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, Shackan Indian Band, SRJV, Coldwater Band, Cooks Ferry Band, DFO | $1,008,000.00 |
2.2 – Upgrade and resize crossings | CWF, STC, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure | Upper Nicola Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, Shackan Indian Band, SRJV, Coldwater Band, Cooks Ferry Band, DFO | $10,962,000.00 |
2.3 – Install and maintain temporary mitigation | CWF | Upper Nicola Band, Lower Nicola Indian Band, Nooaitch Band, Shackan Indian Band, SRJV, Coldwater Band, Cooks Ferry Band, DFO | $630,000.00 |
2.4 – Initiate a barrier owner outreach program | TBD | CWF, Nicola Watershed Community Round Table, Nicola Stockbreeders Association | $100,000.00 |
2.5 – Request regulatory action for non-compliant crossings | TBD | CWF, DFO (C&P) | $10,000.00 |
2.6 – Knowledge Gap: Identify barriers and map barrier ownership | Fraser Basin Council (FBC) | CWF, SRJV, Provincial government | $100,000.00 |
2.7 – Knowledge Gap: Continue updating the structure prioritization model | CWF | TBD | $100,000.00 |
2.8 – Knowledge Gap: Adapt the provincial fish passage framework to account for ephemeral habitat | CWF | TBD | TBD |
2.9 – Knowledge Gap: Assess barriers by applying an adapted version of the provincial fish passage framework | CWF | STC, DFO | $76,140.00 |
Strategy 3: Dam Rehabilitation | TBD | ||
3.1 - Remove dams | TBD | TBD | TBD |
3.2 - Install fish passage | TBD | TBD | TBD |
3.3 - Knowledge Gap: Continue updating the structure prioritization model | CWF | TBD | $0.00 |
3.4 - Knowledge Gap: Assess dams to determine whether they exist and are truly blocking fish habitat | TBD | TBD | TBD |
3.5 - Knowledge Gap: Identify and map dam ownership | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Strategy 4: Barrier Prevention | TBD | ||
4.1 – Work with land users to improve their aquatic connectivity practices | TBD | TBD | TBD |
4.2 – Monitor new crossing compliance with regulations regarding fish passage | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Strategy 5: Progress Tracking Plan | TBD | ||
5.1 - Engage and explore integration with existing regional initiatives | CWF, Nicola Watershed Governance Project, FBC | TBD | TBD |
5.2 - Implement the WCRP Progress Tracking Plan | CWF | TBD | TBD |
Total: | $17,024,140.00 | ||
Fundraising total: | $9,024,140 | ||
Proponent/government contribution total: | $8,000,000 |