Salmon Recovery

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Salmon Recovery in the Okanagan Basin December
2006 Information used for decision making
3255C Shannon Lake Road Westbank, BC V4T
1V4 250.707.0095 www.syilx.org
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• Columbia Basin hydro system
• Exotic species introductions
• Urban and agricultural development
• Water availability and demand

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Complex Regulatory Frameworks Governing Fish
Water Management
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Okanagan Nation Objectives

• Restore fisheries and habitat
• Active role in fisheries management
• Build Okanagan Nation capacity
• Protect and assert Okanagan rights

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What are we doing?

• Culture and Education
• Okanagan Salmon Feast
• Project partnerships with governments and
  stewardship groups
• Salmon Stock Restoration
• Reintroduction of Sockeye into Skaha Lake
• Wilsey Dam passage (Thompson)
• Habitat Restoration
• Fish Water Management Tools
• Okanagan River Restoration Initiative
• Planning and Policy
• Okanagan Chinook COSEWIC Listing
• Pacific Salmon Treaty Renewal

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Canadian Okanagan Basin Technical Working Group

• Coordinated technical approach
• 1997 ONA, DFO, MOE
• Regular communication
• Share information and data
• Collaborate on scientific methods and standards
• Build reputation and credibility
• Benefits for all members

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Sockeye Reintroduction

• Information required
• Large monitoring program
• Broodstock collection, hatchery, fry release
• Salmon enumerations
• In-lake monitoring (sk/kok, mysid/zoop,
  physical/chemical limnology)
• Smolt migration

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• Collaboration
• MOE and water chemistry
• DFO (sk), MOE (kok)
• In-lake monitoring (DFO)

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Fish Water Management ToolsUpdated water
management guidelines balanced
prioritiescommon datasetcollaborative
approach with WSC stationsagreed upon
guidelines for decision making
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Okanagan River Restoration Initiative
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Okanagan Chinook
Monitoring and assessments required to begin
recovery planning
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Benefits to Collaboration

• Build Okanagan Nation capacity
• Increase capacity of project partners
• Increase knowledge of Okanagan basin fisheries
  resources

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Ks pelkstim

• Balancing indigenous and western science to
  manage, protect and restore fisheries resources
  and aquatic habitat