NSSA Projects
Over the past eighteen years, the N.S.S.A. has undertaken a wide variety of projects in its efforts to ensure the protection of the North Shore cold water fisheries and to educate the public about the need to conserve and protect those resources for the enjoyment of future generations.
Current River Fishway Project
Background:
The Current River is a large flow in the heart of the City of Thunder Bay. The system is used by thousands of residents for swimming, walking and skiing trails, fishing for resident trout and general sightseeing. Due to a barrier dam at Boulevard Lake, the system lacked one major treasure - the opportunity to fish for large, migratory Rainbow Trout. NSSA is hoping to change this.
Rehabilitation of the Current River as an accessible and vibrant urban fishery is a long term goal and project of the NSSA. The most important component of this project is the Current River Dam Fishway. The fishway is designed to allow Steelhead to migrate over the dam into the headwaters, and hopefully to produce a large self sustaining stock. The construction of the Fishway was a co-operative venture venture between NSSA, Lakehead Region Conservation Authority, Lake Superior Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and the City of Thunder Bay. The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines also contributed one time capital funding for this project in an effort to enhance the recreational aspect of the system.
Despite introductions of juvenile rainbows from an upwelling box, and transfer of adults which spawned and successfully returned to Lake Superior, this project cannot yet be considered a success, as a self sustaining population has not yet been established. There have been anecdotal sightings of fish moving thru the Ladder, as well as some young of the year captured in years where no introductions took place, but the lack of substantial adults returning leads us to believe that some other obstacle in the lower river is impeding the ability of adults to return.
Ongoing efforts:
This project is back on the list of top priorities, with focus being directed at determining the optimal flow water for migration, the size of the existing run, possible changes to the riverbed to facilitate migration up to the fishladder and lastly if fish are able to ascend the ladder.
As with all river systems on whidh a hydrogeneration faciliy exists, a water management plan must be in place. To view the Boulevard Lake Water Management Plan click here.
While developming the plan it was determined that there were information gaps surrounding the operation of the dam and generating station related to water flows and levels through the fishway. This information is necessary to promote Rainbow Trout movement upstream and up through the fishway. A monitoring and reporting program as to stop log configuration, reservoir water level and flow through the fishway during times of expected Rainbow Trout runs would provide the information necessary to evaluate these operations. Beginning in 2006, the
Ministry of Natural Resources through the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit, and the City of Thunder Bay's Engineering Department began gathering this information. To view the findings please click on the following:
The flow rate reports will be examined and the information processed with the concept of directing possible amendments to the Water Management Plan for Boulevard Lake. The NSSA has formally requested that the WMP be amended.
Spring of 2010
The dry spring of 2010 presented a challenge to the management of the fishladder due to extreme low water conditions. At one point the fishladder was dewatered which left 2 fish stranded in the 3rd step pool from the top (see the photos below). Upon discovering the stranded fish, the NSSA worked with the City and the MNR to capture the fish and release them into Boulevard Lake. This unfortunate incident puntuated the need for an improved water management plan which would see water in the fishladder maintained at all times during the migration periods. The NSSA is hopefull that a minimum flow rate can be established. In addition to improving the flows, the NSSA is also now aware of obstacles to migration under such low water levels, and is developing a plan which will see changes made to the riverbed which should allow migrating fish to reach the fishway more readily. The plan, if approved, will involve the removal of some riverbed to allow access to established pools and the installation of instream deflectors allong which fish will move from pocket to pocket.
On a positive note, we are now sure that fish locate and use the fishway, which puts to rest the question of the functionality of the fishway!
