Mathers Creek feasibility studies groundwater exploration 1978-1980 and pilot hatchery operation 1980-1984 / by A.Y. Fedorenko and B.G. Shepherd.: Fs97-4/1817E-PDF

"Mathers Creek, located on Louise Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands, has been under investigation since 1976 with respect to its potential for major enhancement of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta). This paper reports on the biological studies undertaken by the Salmonid Enhancement Program between 1978 and 1984 at Mathers Creek, and focuses on the operation of a pilot hatchery between 1980 and 1984. The pilot was designed and constructed to investigate possible water quality problems with the two potential water supplies: the groundwater (GW) supply had marginally high (7 μ g/l) un-ionized ammonia levels for salmonid culture; Mathers Creek (SW) had recorded suspended solids levels up to 85 mg/l and often exceeded the recommended limits of 5-25 mg/l. Between 1980 and 1983, 299,000-680,000 chum eggs were taken annually, resulting in releases of 268,000-609,000 fry at mean weights of 0.7-2.4 g. Fin-clips served to differentiate experimental groups. Incubation survivals were high (88%-93%) for all treatments, except the single groundwater-incubated group (49% survival); however, problems associated with the aeration tower may have been responsible rather than ammonia levels. Rearing survivals for all treatments were high (96%-100%). Adult recovery data available for the 3- and 4-year old chum from the 1980 brood and the 3-year old chum from the 1981 brood indicate comparable survivals of the 1980 brood SW and GW treatment groups and an eight-fold higher survival of the 1981 brood GW treatment group. The latter is attributed primarily to the larger release size of the GW fry (2.4 g) compared to SW fry (0.7 g). The results to date from this pilot show no clear evidence of potential culture problems due to suspended sediment or high ammonia levels. However, these results are unfortunately largely inconclusive for a variety of reasons. An appeal is made for a stronger commitment towards experimental rather than production objectives for this and other pilots"--Abstract, page v.

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