Conservationists fear for Vancouver Island salmon amid drought-like conditions
As summer-like conditions creep into early October, water levels on the Nanaimo River are low. That is bad news for spawning Chinook salmon.
"Most of them are stuck down in the deep pools in the lower river where they can’t get up and get to their spawning grounds," said Brian Banks, manager of the Nanaimo River Hatchery.
On Wednesday, the City of Nanaimo released water from its reservoir into the Nanaimo River. It is the first time a release has been needed in five years.
"This water release is going to help the Chinook mostly get up to their spawning grounds," said Banks.
On the South Island, the Colquitz River is extremely low as well.
"The salmon have been seen jumping and holding in Portage Inlet," said Dorothy Chambers, with local environmental group Salmon in the City.
Waiting for rain, those Coho salmon will stay put in the inlet until the rains come. The problem is, seals have moved into the area feasting on those waiting salmon.
"We need to have a very good rainfall, which is called the flush," said Chambers.
The first rains will flush the urban storm drains of their toxins, like oil from roads.
Many storm drains run into the Colquitz River and those toxins have been proven fatal to Coho salmon.
There is a weir at Beaver Lake that can feed the Colquitz River when it gets low.
"I don’t want to see water released quite yet because we haven’t had that first flush," said Chambers.
Nicolette Watson, stock assessment technician with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, agrees that rainfall is needed in the region.
"We very much need rain all around the coast right now," she said. "It’s very dry."
MASS DIE-OFF
A graphic example of what prolonged summer weather can do to salmon populations was recorded in Bella Bella, B.C. last week.
Tens of thousands of salmon were seen lying dead in a dried up riverbed in Bella Bella.
"It’s unheard of," said William Housty, conservation manager with Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department.
"Nobody in the community has ever seen anything like this before."
Tens of thousands of dead salmon are pictured in Bella Bella, B.C.
The mass die-off is part of a growing problem that salmon experts say we're going to see more of in the future.
"As global warming continues at the pace that it’s at," said Lina Azeez with the Watershed Watch Salmon Society.
In the Comox Valley, BC Hydro has redirected the water flows from the Comox Lake Reservoir into the Putledge River because the river is getting low.
On Tuesday, flows were also reduced on the Cowichan River to conserve water due to a dry forecast.
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, rains are expected to arrive on Monday, but only about five millimetres, which is still not enough to make a difference on our thirsty rivers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.