By Dave Branco

Fish rescue

Cottonwood Island Park: A lifeline for Chinook salmon amidst BC’s water crisis

Oct 31, 2023 | 1:43 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – British Columbia is experiencing severe drought levels and unprecedented conditions around the province. So, what does that mean for our region? The lower water levels have the local fish hatchery searching for fish who are trapped in pools of water in a side channel at Cottonwood Island Park.

Since water started to recede in back channels that branch off the Nechako River, Jesi Lauzon has been on a rescue mission.

“Having a side channel is that such as this that are killing these fish is definitely an issue.”

Jesi Lauzon

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Spruce City Wildlife Association

In partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Lauzon monitors riverside channels weekly. So far, the efforts have relocated hundreds of small chinook salmon.

Low water levels are considered a threat to Nechako chinook salmon stocks, and their survivability can drastically decrease.

Spruce City Wildlife and the DFO are working together to change the habitat for the salmon who use Cottonwood Island Park as a place of refuge.

Over the last few years, volunteers have estimated that they have saved close to two hundred chinook salmon from the small pools of water at Cottonwood Island Park.

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

TikTok: @DaveBrancoVJ