Hi SSBC members.
Your Steelhead Society directors have some interesting tidbits for you to mull over between trips to your favourite river. We’ve got news about your SSBC website, a hugely successful fundraiser, the passing of a dearly respected conservationist — and a checklist of our steelhead-friendly conservation initiatives.
FUNDRAISER A SMASHING SUCCESS
SSBC directors were in a bit of a quandary after we were forced to cancel last year’s annual pub night fundraiser due to Covid-19. As an alternative we decided to invest some time (well, mostly director Gill Steele’s time) and effort into an online auction and raffle. Our expectations were admittedly modest for this first-time event. But apparently, you loved the idea of buying tickets for chances to win some first-class swag and a 50/50 that topped out at more than $8,000 for the winner, D. Hoberg of Gibsons. We raised a total of $26,000 that will support the Society’s conservation projects and related activities. That’s roughly the same amount of money we raised from our last pub night in 2019. Words can’t express our gratitude for your support and generosity. Thank you also for sharing information about the event with your friends.
List of prizewinners: https://bcsteelhead.rafflenexus.com/prize-list
NOTED CONSERVATIONIST PASSES
On behalf of all Society members, SSBC directors offer their condolences to the family of Father Charles Brandt after his death late last year at the age of 97. The British Columbia steelheading community lost a great friend with the passing of Father Brandt. An avid steelhead angler and celebrated conservationist, Father Brandt was awarded the Steelhead Society’s Cal Woods Award in 1989 in recognition of his determined and successful effort to restore the Tsolum River and champion the protection and recovery of other Vancouver Island streams.
To understand why the Society saw Father Brandt as such a worthy recipient of its top honour, be sure to read this profile by Bob Jones for BC Outdoors. (Father Brandt and Cal Woods were friends, BTW).
Here’s the obituary that ran in the Victoria Times-Colonist, taking note of Father Brandt’s passing.
NEW WEBSITE ONLINE
Our updated SSBC website is now online. Special thanks to Dave Georgelin of D7 Digital Marketing who dedicated his professionalism and enthusiasm to the project.
CONSERVATION UPDATES
SSBC Northern Branch News — The Northern Branch has been in discussions with Katherine Butts of the Lax Kw’alaams Fisheries Department about the Indigenous group’s Pound Trap project on the Skeena River in Prince Rupert. Director Troy Peters indicates the Northern Branch will be involved in the project.
Other Northern Branch activities:
- Support for an arts program of the Kitsukalum First Nations.
- Placement of bins for used fishing line, placed atpopular angling locations in Prince George, Smithers, Terrace and Kitimat.
- A potential project to create spawning pools on Simpson Creek, and to create spawning habitat on Kleanza Creek
Lower Fraser Selective Fishing Project — As noted in our Fall 2020 Newsletter, The Society remains committed to research leading towards adoption of selective fishing activity in the Lower Fraser River. We have been working with the Harrison Salmon Producers Limited Partnership, representing the Sts’ailes and Sq’éwlets First Nations, including an offer to contribute funds to this research. The Partnership’s fish trap proposals, along with a sister proposal from the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance (representing 30 Lower Fraser First Nations), have been accepted for interest by the federal and provincial governments through the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.
Thompson steelhead update — Despite blatant efforts by Fisheries and Oceans Canada bureaucrats to block endangered species listing for Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada continues to study this issue. COSEWIC will submit a full report to the federal government in the fall of 2021. SSBC Director Poul Bech warns that this will be a slow process, with the results of a final assessment not released for three to four years.
Conservation-focused signs supported — The Steelhead Society is one of the sponsors of a project that will use signage to tell anglers about fishing regulations, tackle, fish handling and related issues. Other sponsors include the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC and Keep Fish Wet, in partnership with BC Parks. Sign themes and wording are in development. River locations either finalized or under consideration include the Cowichan, Nahmint and Coquihalla.
SSBC tops up Vedder derby fundraiser — Thanks to the contributions of Chilliwack-Vedder River steelheaders,the 2020-2021 Wally Hall Jr Memorial Derby raised about $27,000. Proceeds from the annual derby, supported by Fred’s Custom Tackle, Fishing with Rod, and the Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Society, go to the Fraser Valley Watersheds Coalition. The Steelhead Society is bumping up proceeds by $3,000, which puts the total for this season’s event over $30,000.
Gold River update — Unsustainable logging practices are causing significant habitat damage and water quality problems for one of British Columbia’s iconic steelhead streams. Society director Trevor Welton noted that although the Gold River is highly regarded by anglers, “no other (north Island) stream has seen the devastation that stream has.” Welton has been working with a wide range of stakeholders including community groups, fisheries biologists and Indigenous groups who are anxious to reverse logging damage and restore the system’s integrity and productivity.
Predation upon steelhead smolts by seals, including in the lower Gold where seals are a common sight, is identified as a serious threat to the future of these fish. Welton quoted one biologist who stated that historically, the survival rate from smolt to adult spawners for Gold steelhead was 13 per cent, compared to a break-even spawning return of four per cent. On the Gold, as well as other north Island streams currently being monitored, the smolt to spawner survival rate is one to two per cent.