B.C. MINISTRY OF HIGHWAYS STAFF RECOGNIZED FOR WORK TO IMPROVE FISH HABITAT

Prince Rupert, B.C. – Employees at the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways have been recognized for their diligence in improving fish habitats while constructing and maintaining public roadways in northern B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today.

The 13 staff members—who work in a large area around Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Smithers and Queen Charlotte Islands—have received an Industry Award from DFO’s North Coast Area office. The award is presented to individuals and companies that demonstrate excellence and innovation in protecting fish habitat. The award also recognizes the importance of proactive habitat protection, a preferred option to Fisheries Act enforcement.

The Ministry staff worked in partnership with DFO and stewardship groups to apply innovative techniques to improve or replace existing road culverts to allow fish to pass through them and reach upstream habitat. In many cases, the existing culverts had been longstanding barriers to fish.

“We applaud the initiative shown by these employees of the Ministry of Transportation and Highways in ensuring the safe passage of both people and fish past public stream crossings within their jurisdiction,” said Bruce Shepherd, North Coast Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Chief.

There are now more than a half-dozen North Coast stream crossings where these Ministry employees have incorporated fish needs into their road maintenance and construction programs. In most instances, salmon have quickly made use of the newly accessible fish habitat.

The projects include:

• Cable Car Creek, a tributary of the Kitimat River: On Highway 37 north of Kitimat, a culvert with a natural gravel bottom replaced a conventional culvert with a corrugated pipe bottom. About three kilometres of good-quality habitat is now available for coho and pink salmon, as well as cutthroat and Dolly Varden trout.
   

• Grelson Creek, part of the Nass River system: On Highway 37 North, north of Meziadin Junction, a concrete structure with a series of baffles replaced an impassable culvert to allow coho, pink and steelhead salmon and other fish access to about three kilometres of good-quality habitat.
   

• Agnes Creek, on the Queen Charlotte Islands: On Highway 16 on Moresby Island, a series of step pools and a concrete culvert replaced four old corrugated metal culverts that blocked off most of the creek. Coho salmon can now reach more than three kilometres of good spawning and rearing habitat, and the size of the run is expected to increase.

“DFO appreciates the personal commitment to improving fish habitats and the leadership in environmental stewardship of these B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways staff,” Mr. Shepherd said. “Through their efforts, they are proving that there are more fish-friendly ways to work—an excellent example for other industries, utilities and contractors.”

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For information:
 

Carrie Mishima

Communications Branch

Fisheries and Oceans Canada