3 Structure Prioritization

Field Assessment Ranking Process

A primary outcome of the WCRP will be the rehabilitation of barriers to connectivity in the Horsefly River watershed. To achieve Goal 1 in this plan, it is necessary to identify a suite of barriers that, if rehabilitated, will provide access to a minimum of 14.77 km of key habitat (Table 3.1).

Table 3.1: Spawning and rearing habitat connectivity gain requirements to meet WCRP goals in the Horsefly River watershed. The measures of currently connected and total habitat values are derived from the Intrinsic Potential habitat model described in Appendix B.

Habitat Type	Currently connected (km)	Total (km)	Current Connectivity Status	Goal	Gain required (km)
Spawning and Rearing	326.28	355.26	92%	96%	14.77

After all existing data and knowledge are collated for known and modelled crossings, an iterative ranking process is conducted to identify barriers for rehabilitation to meet the goals. The ranking process is primarily used to guide field assessments and maximize efficiency in ground truthing data inputs and model outputs, while providing a secondary purpose to evaluate the relative key habitat gains of confirmed barriers in the watershed. This process, combined with input from local knowledge holders and experts, is used to develop field plans for assessing structures that have the potential to block the most key habitat in the watershed. Field assessments are based on the B.C. Fish Passage Strategic Approach Environment (2014) and can include a barrier assessment (i.e., evaluating passability of the structure), a habitat confirmation (i.e., evaluation of whether the upstream habitat is suitable for the focal species and whether there are other undocumented man-made or natural barriers upstream or downstream), or a detailed habitat investigation (e.g., a fish passage study or further in-depth analysis of habitat features in a waterbody).

The ranking process accounts for the long-term and immediate habitat gains potentially offered by each structure to improve key habitat connectivity in the watershed. All structures in the watershed (excluding those confirmed as passable) are ranked in each iteration of the ranking process. Details of the ranking process used to guide field assessments can be found in Appendix C.

Structure Prioritization Results

Following field assessments, structures are placed on one of five possible lists:

1. Priority barriers list – the structure is confirmed as a full or partial barrier, has key habitat confirmed to exist upstream, and is considered actionable by the planning team (i.e., action items will be identified to advance rehabilitation of the structure). Depending on the barrier, owner, financial constraints, and quality of upstream habitat, the action may be to leave to end of life cycle before reviewing again, remove and decommission the structure, replace with a new passable structure, or modify to temporarily restore connectivity (e.g., fish ladder or baffles installed; (Table 3.2)).

2. Assessed structures that remain data deficient list – some form of field assessment has been completed on the structure, but further investigation is required to confirm either the passability status or presence/suitability of upstream habitat (Table 3.3).

3. Rehabilitated barriers list – priority barriers that have been addressed either through removal, replacement, or temporary fish passage improvement projects; (Table 3.4).

4. Non-actionable barriers list – the structure is confirmed to be a barrier to fish passage and have some amount/quality of habitat upstream, but the planning team will not identify actions to advance rehabilitation of the structure because of logistic considerations (e.g., financial costs), short habitat gain, or the upstream habitat is of poor quality or unsuitable in its present condition to support key life stages of the focal species Appendix C.

5. Excluded structures list – the structure is excluded from further consideration in subsequent ranking and work planning because the structure is confirmed passable, not present, or there is no key habitat upstream Appendix C.

Table 3.2:

The Horsefly River watershed priority barrier list, which includes barriers that have undergone field assessment, been reviewed by the planning team, and selected to pursue for proactive rehabilitation.

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Structure Type	Partial Passability	Structure Owner	Num Barriers Set	Total Hab Gain Set	Upstream Habitat Quality	Estimated Cost $	Next Steps	Reason	Notes	Supporting Links
57556	6800076	Sucker Creek	Black Creek FSR	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	MOTI	1	5.07	Medium	20000	Engage with barrier owner	Culvert passes fish but is not fully backwatered. Higher density of juveniles downstream	May just need to adjust backwater, consider replacement at end of life. Work with barrier owner to determine timeline for rehabilitation	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=1885
57507	6800089	Wilmot Creek	MOTI	Stream crossing - CBS	No	MOTI	1	2.93	Medium	400000	Commission engineering designs	High potential for use by salmon, direct connection to Horsefly mainstem	Designs in progress	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=197825
124150	6800503	Trib to Deerhorn	unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	Unknown	Private	1	1.89	High	150000	Engage with barrier owner	Undersized culvert, fish present	Landowner says fish present	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=124330
197762	6800487	Divan Creek	unnamed	Stream crossing - Ford	No	Forest tenure	1	1.44	Low	2000	Engage with barrier owner	Industry barrier	No permitted roads to site. Talk to Tolko about potential hand removal	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=198782
124272		Trib to Woodjam Creek	Unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	Private	1	1.15	High	150000	Engage with barrier owner	Undersized culvert, fish present	abundant fish downstream during 2017 assessment. May be passable to adults	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=197823
198300	6800483	Molybdenite Creek	West Fraser/Tolko	Stream crossing - Ford	Unknown	Forest tenure	1	0.88	High	10000	Engage with barrier owner	Industry barrier	Remove debris from collapsed bridge from stream channel. Currently a barrier at low flows	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=199520
124268	6800048	Vedder Creek	Horsefly-Quesnel Lake Road	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	MOTI	2	0.87	High	400000	Commission engineering designs	Salmonid juveniles observed indicating high quality habitat	Designs in progress	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=124448
198876		Vedder Creek	Private	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	Private	2	0.87	High	2000	Engage with barrier owner	Easy fix, high quality habitat	Small flexi culvert, likely could be removed by hand	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=200136
124249	6800023	Wawn Lake Creek	Millar Road	Stream crossing - CBS	Unknown	MOTI	1	0.70	Medium	400000	Engage with barrier owner	Deferred until Vedder and Wilmot complete	Currently backwatered by impassable beaver dam. Undersized	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=1882
124256	6800022	Harpers Creek	Horsefly Road	Stream crossing - CBS	No	MOTI	2	0.69	Medium	400000	Commission engineering designs	Decent rearing habitat in Harpers Lake	Designs on hold while Vedder and Wilmot addressed	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=1883
57158	6800596	Trib to McKinley Creek	R02156-887	Stream crossing - CBS	No	Forest tenure	2	0.36	High	150000	Rehabilitation	Industry barrier	Short habitat gain (wetland upstream). Poorly defined channel beyond wetland.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=197835
126471		Trib to Woodjam Creek	unnamed	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	FLNRO	1	0.10	Medium	20000	Engage with barrier owner	Potentially easy fix	Cattle trail, may be able to decommission or replace with small 3 m bridge. Discuss with barrier owner. Short habitat gain, parr able to pass at some flows, dewatering/ stranding potential.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=685
57298	24708568	Trib to Bosk Lake	Black Creek-Cruiser Lake	Stream crossing - CBS	Yes	Forest tenure	1	0.08	Medium	250000	Rehabilitation	Industry barrier	Tolko aiming to replace with clearspan bridge summer 2024	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?assessmentId=197832

Table 3.3:

Assessed structures that remain data deficient

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Structure Type	Structure Owner	Barrier Status	Partial Passability	Assessment Type Completed	Total Hab Gain Set	Num Barriers Set	Next Steps	Notes	Supporting Links
1200000002		Patenaude Creek	Private	Stream crossing - OBS	Private	BARRIER		Informal assessment	3.62	1	Barrier assessment (data deficient structures only)	Complete barrier assessment to verify status
126438	6800525	Trib to Horsefly River	Private	Stream crossing - CBS	Private	POTENTIAL		Barrier assessment	0.85	1	Engage with barrier owner	Can't access site (landowner refusal). Brian checking with local consultant if he knows anything about the crossing. Bring to regulator if no resolution.	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=1882
1006800220	6800220	Trib to Harpers Lake	unnamed	Other	Private	POTENTIAL		Other	0.69	2	Non-actionable
57430	6801719	Gifford Creek	Hendrix-McKinley	Stream crossing - CBS	FLNRO	BARRIER		Habitat confirmation	0.02	1	In-depth habitat investigation (data deficient structures only)	Coho present downstream, some steep sections to falls, salmonids throughout to falls	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=703
124271		MacLean Creek	Private	Stream crossing - CBS	Private	BARRIER		Habitat confirmation			Engage with barrier owner	Last assessed 2017. Can't access. Brian checking with local consultant on status of crossing. Bring in regulator if no resolution	http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/pscismap/imageViewer.do?habitatConfirmationId=681

Table 3.4:

Rehabilitated structures.

Barrier Id	Modelled Crossing Id	Watercourse Name	Road Name	Type Of Rehabilitation	Rehabilitated By	Rehabilitated Date	Total Hab Gain Set	Actual Project Cost $	Next Steps	Notes	Supporting Links
126511	6800263	Trib to Horsefly River	unnamed	Replacement - OBS	Tolko	2023-01-01	2.21		N/A - project complete (rehabilitated structures only)	Culvert removed from under bridge
126594	6801993	Niquidet Creek	R17330-730	Replacement - OBS	Tolko	2023-01-01	0.35		N/A - project complete (rehabilitated structures only)	Crossing replaced with clearspan bridge
57168	24708567	Boscar Lake Creek	Black Creek-Cruiser Lake	Removal/decommissioned	CWF	2022-01-01		94613	N/A - project complete (rehabilitated structures only)	Originally priced for a bridge, was decommissioned instead, hence major difference between estimated rehab and actual rehab costs.	https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/downloads/pdf/2021-2022-Projects-Technical-Briefing.pdf