Columbia Valley Pioneer staff
Shuswap Band is seeking a horsepower restriction exemption in the Columbia Wetlands for native fish research.
Last week the Band requested a letter of support and received it from the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) in its quest to ease vessel restrictions in their application to Transport Canada.
Shuswap Band is having two custom fabricated, low-impact aluminum boats being built for its six-year Native Fish Species Population and Telemetry Project (funded through the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Environmental Damages Fund (EDF).
“This is a very exciting generational opportunity of funding we have secured for native species fisheries research and population restoration within the Columbia Headwaters from Donald Station (Golden area) to the headwaters at Canal Flats,” said Scott Cope, the Band’s senior fisheries biologist and acting director of Territorial Stewardship.
It was also noted that Shuswap Band Guardians will use these vessels for river patrols and may be available for use in assisting search and rescue or emergency response calls.
“We are also looking forward to salmon reintroductions in the near future and Shuswap Band wants to be the lead in providing local knowledge to boat operators and researchers for that work also,” Cope stated in his correspondence to the RDEK.
Two small jet powered skiffs are being fabricated in Cranbrook for crew transportation, fish trapping and tagging, radio telemetry tracking and ‘River Guardian’ patrols over the 160 kilometre headwater reach of the Columbia River. The boats are being built with 60 hp outboard jets, which is an 80 hp factory outboard conversion. The skiffs are light and have a shallow draft with minimum wake. It was noted these vessels will only be utilized as powerboats in the main stem of Columbia River. For sensitive areas (no wake zones) they will also be outfitted as a drift boat with oarlocks and oars mounted for rowing. These skiffs are wide (six feet) stable work platforms and require something larger than the 9.9 hp restriction to carry a crew and equipment.
Cope said they are preparing a safety plan and an environmental management plan (EMP) so it is documented where the boats will be launched. Mitigation measures will be in place to minimize transit distances and to protect breeding birds during the nesting season.
“Preserving the quality wilderness experience and promoting non-motorized activity within the Columbia headwaters is recognized to be very important during the busy summer visitor season,” said Cope.
The Band also intends to notify the conservation service of when and where the boats will be used so they are aware of the activities.
Boats will have the Shuswap Band logo and ‘Territorial Fisheries’ prominently displayed on them. Community outreach and engagement will also be conducted to inform the public about the program.
The Band is working with the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship for their letter of support also.
