Small fry habitat restored by Ahousaht

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Cypre River was once an abundant source of wild Coho and Chinook Salmon for the people of Ahousaht. About half the old-growth trees that provided stability to the riverbanks, however, were removed during the 1970s and early '80s, resulting in the erosion of the banks. This widened and made shallow the river leaving nowhere for the salmon fry to grow to the smolt stage.

"Since it's been over-logged. A little bit of rain means a lot of flooding," said Ahousaht Fisheries employee, Larry Swan, "The river runs too fast for the Coho fry and they get washed away before they get a chance to turn to smolts."

In an effort to restore the wild salmon stocks, a partnership was formed between Ahousaht, Weyerhaeuser, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Ministry of Environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The parties hired fisheries consultant, John Ebell, to assess the Cypre River Watershed and to prescribe ways for the restoration of the fish habitat.

The answer was to build side channels off of the main river in order to provide refuge for the salmon fry during floods. Ebell said there are two main objectives for side channels: To create a stable, protected rearing habitat and to provide a high water refuge habitat so the fry can move out of the main river during floods then return when the flood is over."

The first side channel was constructed in 1998 and was followed by another in 1999 and 2000. The side channels are carved from the riverbank and meander for 500 and 750 metres. Large dikes built on each side of the side channel are designed to withstand flooding.

Ebell estimates that nearly half-a-million dollars has been spent on the three projects and benefits were immediately noticed.

"In 1998 there were 6,000 Coho fry rearing in the side channel."

The second side channel was designed for Chum, but instead was used by Coho. It is estimated that 6,000 Coho fry used this channel last year. These Coho fry would have been forever lost had it not been for the side channels.

Approximately half the salmon rearing in the Cypre River are hatchery fish from the Tofino Enhancement Society. Ebell was pleased to see that the salmon fry in the side streams were almost exclusively wild.

"Our main goal is to do what we can to rebuild the wild salmon stocks."