1. FISH HABITAT ENHANCEMENT TOOLKITS
Anne Bendig
Lanark County Stewardship Council
Lake Links Workshop October 24, 2015

2. OUTLINE What are they? Importance Contents of toolkits
What do you need to conduct a project
Approximate cost
How evaluate success
Web site to obtain Fish Habitat Toolkit protocols & videos
Show video of enhancing a walleye spawning bed

3. Partners & Funding Partners
Watersheds Canada (Documents prepared by Lanark County Stewardship Council & Watersheds Canada)
Lanark & District Fish & Game Conservation Club
Dalhousie Lake Association
Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority
Pinegrove Productions
Funding
Environment Canada

4. What are fish habitat toolkits
How to create in-water brush piles
How to enhance a walleye spawning bed

5. What are fish habitat toolkits?
Provide easy to follow written guidelines for planning and implementing the project
A video demonstrating each of these types of projects
Made for Lake Associations, Fish and Game Clubs, Conservation Clubs to easily improve fish habitat

6. Importance of Fish Habitat Toolkits
In–water brush piles provide food sources, feeding areas, shelter & spawning habitat for fish, turtles, birds & aquatic invertebrates.
Improves water quality by reducing suspended sediments
A undeveloped lake has hundreds of logs, fallen trees per km of shoreline

7. Importance of Fish Habitat Toolkits
Walleye spawning beds may need to be enhanced due to loss of appropriate rock from ice movement, & high water levels
Or deposit of sediments & algae on the rocks from development of cottages on the lake or livestock having access to streams.
Either project allows groups to do a project to improve the lake environment

8. Contents of Toolkits Steps to plan your project
Determine your objectives (species requirements)
Consult key stakeholders (OMNRF, CA’s, DFO, F&G clubs, Lake Assoc., local residents
Obtain the necessary permits (possibly from OMNRF, Parks Canada & DFO)
Choose your project site
Plan your project (materials & equipment)
Fund your project (an example budget is provided & where to get funding)
Communicate your project plan

9. Contents of Toolkits How to make the brush piles & transport them.
Steps to implement your project
How to make the brush piles & transport them.

10. Transporting brush piles

11. Transporting brush bundles

12. Contents of Toolkits Steps to implement your project
How to add the appropriate rock to the walleye spawning bed

13. Contents of Toolkits How to evaluate success of project
List of resources
References

14. What do you need? Brush piles Enhancing a walleye spawning bed
Cut brush (deciduous or xmas trees)
Nylon rope
Cement blocks
GPS & depth sounder
Boat
Permits if required
Map
8-12 volunteers
Underwater camera
Silt curtain (stakes & rope)
Small boat & motor
Round rock (4-12in. 40 tons for 1500 sq. ft. bed)
10 large boulders
GPS
Water pump to wash rock
High-hoe, loader, or crane, or barge
Permits
Map
Q beam rechargeable light
Underwater camera

15. Approximate costs Brush piles Enhancing walleye spawning beds
15 brush piles cost approximately $
Sample budget presented
Costs will depend on what type of heavy equipment is used or if it can be done by hand using volunteers to place the rock
A 1,500 sq. ft. spawning bed using a high-hoe & boat cost about $5,500
A 3,000 sq. ft. spawning bed using a loader, & crane cost $10, $15,000.00
Sample budget presented

16. How to evaluate success
Brush piles
Enhancing walleye spawning beds
Use an underwater camera to document fish& wildlife using the piles
Record fish species ( adult or young), numbers
Record other species i.e. snakes, turtles, frogs, invertebrates and plant life
Conduct an angling survey near the brush piles & record species caught
Do this for several years to see if there is a change over time
During the walleye spawning period take water temperatures.
Peak spawning occurs at ° C
Monitor spawning bed at night using Q beam rechargeable spotlight 7 record date, time, water temperature, # of walleye & approx. size
If water is deep enough & flow is not too strong, use an underwater camera
Need to record this information for several years to see if there is a change over time

17. Web site to obtain Fish Habitat Toolkit protocols & videos
Click on PROJECTS tab
Click on Fish Habitat Creation for brush piles
Click on Walleye Spawning Habitat for enhancing walleye spawning habitat
Videos will appear
Under video is a sentence “Before starting your own project you may want to consult step by step protocol available HERE” Click on here for protocol to appear