The Colquitz River supports one of the largest urban coho salmon populations in Greater Victoria, and over the past several years, Peninsula Streams & Shorelines has been working to better understand these populations through long-term monitoring.
Using smolt trapping, PIT tagging, adult escapement monitoring, and redd surveys, our latest report brings together data collected by PSS alongside historical monitoring conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and local stewardship groups, including Salmon in the City, World Fisheries Trust, and Esquimalt Anglers.
Some of the findings highlighted in the report include:
• Large year-to-year variation in smolt production, ranging from 88 to more than 4,000 smolts.
• A first look at salmon survival and movement using PIT tag technology.
• The potential role of flow timing and urban runoff in influencing salmon populations.
• Where coho are spawning and how restored habitats are being used.
One of the biggest takeaways from this work is that answering these questions takes time. Salmon populations are influenced by many interacting factors, and long-term monitoring is essential for identifying trends, understanding what may be driving changes from year to year, evaluating the effectiveness of restoration projects, and helping prioritize future restoration efforts.
None of this work would be possible without our incredible volunteers. From checking smolt traps and processing underwater camera footage to conducting redd surveys, hundreds of volunteer hours have made this monitoring program possible. Thank you to everyone who has contributed their time and enthusiasm!
Read the full report here.
Photo by Adam Kammer.