Nutrient enhancement is just one of several tools used to restore fish habitat, especially in the lower mainland. Nutrient enhancement can increase primary and secondary production (i.e. plankton and macroinvertebrate biomass = food for juvenile salmonids). Nutrients like Nitrogen and Phosphorus (inorganic nutrients) have always been the lower mainland’s limiting factor where lakes and streams are concerned (high rain fall and insoluble granite rock). Instead, returning pacific salmon provided nutrients (organic nutrients) to rivers and lakes when they die. Unfortunately, poor logging practices, urban development, loss of riparian habitat (streamside vegetation) and over-harvesting of salmon have reduced the numbers of returning salmon, ultimately reducing the nutrient availability of our streams. Therefore, in an effort to mitigate this impact we use nutrient enhancement projects to increase growth of juvenile salmonids by increasing the amount of food available to them. Furthermore, streambank stabilizing, spawning channels and instream habitats are also created for restoration efforts. Again, poor logging practices, urban development and hydro-electric projects have reduced natural flow regimes and do not support favourable juvenile salmonid habitat. These are just some of the methods used to try and restore our streams. Hope this helps, in any event, it’s important and I’m sure they would love your help.
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Topic: Volunteers needed for stream enrichment project, June 8th or 9th (Read 3925 times)