D.G.R. Consulting
Stream Assessment
OP-273223
For: Island Timberlands Limited Partnership,
North West Bay
Kraig Urbanoski Area Engineer
Island Timberlands
North West Bay Operation
Nanoose Bay
D.G. Rigets E.I.A. CTech.
PO Box 127
Errington BC V0R 1V0
(250) 248-9361
July 26, 2008
1
File #: 767
Area: Loon Lake/Stokes Creek
Access: By 2 wheel drive from ITLP Office along the Island Highway west to the top of the Alberni Hump,
then 2WD on onto Loon Lake Main. Then approximately 1.5 Km to LL1_5 then approximately 500-meters to the
end of the road.
Objectives:
1. To assess Creek 5 for the presence or absence of fish.
Method: Electro-fish.
Watershed Information:
Name:
STOKES CREEK
Watershed Code:
930-137400-13300-59300
Waterbody Identifier:
00000ALBN
Stream Length:
5.97 km
Stream Order:
1
Stream Magnitude:
1
Introduction:
On July 23, 2008 Darryl Rigets and an assistant of D.G.R Consulting conducted field assessments of a stream
that occurs within Cut block 273223, for Island Timberlands Limited Partnership.
The primary goal of this assessment was to determine presence or absence of fish in Creek 5 a tributary of
Stokes Creek.
The area of study is situated in a shallow draw on the west side of a portion of the Old Export on the south end
of the Beaufort Range. Stokes Creek is the outlet stream of Loon Lake. Loon Lake is stocked regularly and has
good populations of cutthroat trout. Stokes Creek flows out of Loon Lake and immediately crosses under the
railroad tracks then flows parallel to the tracks for approximately 300-meters before entering a series of
wetlands. The wetlands are immediately adjacent to the Alberni Highway. Stokes Creek flows out of the
wetlands crosses the Alberni Highway and begins a rapid decent to the confluence with Rogers Creek
approximately 3 km downstream from the highway crossing. Fish access is one-way only from Loon Lake.
Creek 5 is a third order tributary of Stokes Creek.
2
Field Observations and Results:
Creek 5 :
Reach 1, Class NB1, is a low gradient (11%) 7.6-meter wide intermittent channel of
cobble/bedrock/boulder/gravel substrate with large woody debris creating cobble/gravel wedges. Creek 5 is
a third order tributary of Stokes Creek. Creek 5 flows into Stokes Creek approximately 750-meters
downstream from the south western boundary of OP 273223. Creek 5 crosses a rail road grade
approximately 220-meters downstream from the proposed road crossing. Several barriers to fish migration
occur downstream from the rail grade crossing and immediately upstream from where Creek 5 flows
through a tunnel which occurs under the railroad crossing. Creek 5 was electro-fished from the entrance of
the tunnel upstream for approximately 650-meters. No fish were found.
Reach # 1
Length:
Meters.
650
Average gradient:
%
11
Average channel width:
Meters.
7.6
Average wetted width:
Meters.
1.5
Average depth:
Centimeters
20
Water Quality:
Temp: 8.50C Flow: low
Color Clear
cobble/bedrock/boulder/gravel
Substrate:
Fish Found:
No Sp
Vegetation:
Coniferous second growth forest
Habitat:
Riffle/run
%Cover:
25%
Large Woody Debris:
Low
Transport potential
High
Voltage
400-600
Seconds shocked
1150
Conclusion:
Many barriers to fish migration occur upstream from the confluence of Creek 5 with Stokes Creek.
Creek 5 was sampled and intensively electro-fished for approximately 650-meters for a duration of 1150
seconds. All waters within the sample area were electro-fished.
No fish were found.
Please call if you have any questions.
Darryl Rigets
3
Photo 1: Tunnel at rail crossing
Photo 2: Falls immediately upstream from the tunnel.
4
Photo 3: Falls immediately upstream from the tunnel.
5
Stream Assessment Map
5
E&
NR
a ilr
oad
R1 1
Nb
Alberni Highway
OP# 27223
Trim Map Sheet 92F027
LEGEND
Road Location
Built Road
Creek Number
Reach Name
Creek Class
Gross Falling Boundary
Wetland
Reach Boundary
Streams: Fish Stream
1
R1
S1
The Locations Of All Objects On This Map Are
Approximate.
Non-Fish Stream
Not Assessed
Scale: 1:5 000
0
50
100
200
300 m