Supplementary Information

Situation Analysis

The following situation model was developed by the WCRP planning team to “map” the project context and brainstorm potential actions for implementation. Green text is used to identify actions that were selected for implementation (see Strategies & Actions), and red text is used to identify actions that the project team has decided to exclude from the current iteration of the plan, as they were either outside of the project scope, or were deemed to be ineffective by the planning team.

Figure 1: Situation analysis developed by the planning team to identify factors that contribute to fragmentation (orange boxes), biophysical results (brown boxes), and potential strategies/actions to improve connectivity (yellow hexagons) for focal species in the Horsefly River watershed.

Strategies & Actions

The planning team identified five broad strategies to implement through this WCRP, 1) crossing rehabilitation, 2) lateral barrier rehabilitation, 3) dam rehabilitation, 4) barrier prevention, and 5) communication and education. Individual actions were qualitatively evaluated based on the anticipated effect each action will have on realizing on-the-ground gains in connectivity. Effectiveness ratings are based on a combination of “Feasibility” and “Impact”. Feasibility is defined as the degree to which the project team can implement the action within realistic constraints (financial, time, ethical, etc.) and Impact is the degree to which the action is likely to contribute to achieving one or more of the goals established in this plan.

Strategy 1: Crossing Rehabilitation

Table 1: Strategy 1

ID	Actions	Details	Feasibility	Impact	Effectiveness
1.1	Rehabilitate crossings that are acting as barriers	This intervention includes some projects that would be led by the planning team with conservation funds (e.g., orphaned barriers or those owned by individuals), while other rehabilitation projects would be the responsibility of the barrier owner. Industry will have to be engaged to successfully implement this intervention. HRR can help with finding local people to implement rehabilitation projects.	High	Very high	Effective
1.2	Lobby the government to enforce their regulations	This can apply to both provincial and federal governments. For example, advocating for increased discretionary decisions to remove barriers to fish. One action could be to submit barrier assessment data to show proof that regulations are not being followed.	Very high	High	Effective
1.3	Initiate a barrier owner outreach program for locations on the barrier rehabilitation shortlist	Work with landowners / users (e.g., ATV groups) to identify and rehabilitate their aquatic barriers. Education component can help prevent barriers from being installed in the first place. HRR to reach out to owners of confirmed barriers to discuss rehabilitation options; CWF to reach out to provincial representatives.	Very high	Very high	Very effective
1.4	Knowledge Gap: Continue updating the barrier prioritization model	The model has been updated to reflect 2023 field assessments and review of field results.	Very high	High	Effective
1.5	Knowledge Gap: conduct field assessments on updated preliminary barrier list using the provincial fish passage framework and update connectivity goal if additional barriers are added to the barrier rehabilitation shortlist		Very high	Very high	Very effective
1.6	Update longitudinal connectivity goal if additional barriers are added to the barrier rehabilitation shortlist
1.7	Knowledge Gap: Identify and map crossing ownership	For barriers on the barrier rehabilitation shortlist.	Very high	Very high	Very effective
1.8	Knowledge Gap: Compile road maintenance schedules	Ground-truthing is important, as the schedules do not always reflect what happens in the field.	High	High	Effective
1.9	Knowledge Gap: Survey trail-stream crossings to confirm low pressure rating values	Trail-stream crossings were surveyed by WLFN in 2022. No barriers were identified.	Very high	Medium	Need more information

Strategy 2: Lateral Barrier Rehabilitation

Table 2: Strategy 2

ID	Actions	Details	Feasibility	Impact	Effectiveness
2.1	Rehabilitate dikes / berms / other lateral barriers		High	Very high	Effective
2.2	Initiate a barrier owner outreach program		Very high	Very high	Very effective
2.3	Knowledge Gap: Identify and map year-round lateral habitat, as well as overwintering habitat	Explore the use of a drone to identify lateral habitat. Volunteers from the HRR will conduct field habitat assessments following modules in the Pacific Streamkeepers Handbook to assess disconnected lateral and overwintering salmon habitats in the Horsefly watershed . The first phase of this project was initated in 2022.	Very high	Very high	Very effective
2.4	Knowledge Gap: Map lateral barriers and barrier ownership	Focus on identifying ownership of priority lateral barriers that we want to rehabilitate in the short-term.	Very high	Very high	Very effective
2.5	Knowledge Gap: Develop a framework to assess and prioritize among different lateral barrier rehabilitation projects	CWF is leading pilot project in the Lower Nicola River watershed to develop methods for identifying and prioritizing lateral barriers to anadromous salmonids.	Very high	Very high	Very effective

Strategy 3: Dam Rehabilitation

Table 3: Strategy 3

ID	Actions	Details	Feasibility	Impact	Effectiveness
3.1	Rehabilitate Dams		Medium	Very high	Need more information
3.2	Install Fish Passage		Medium	High	Need more information
3.3	Connect with B.C. Cattleman's Association to explore a partnership to rehabilitate dams	This may involve exploring alternative water management actions that would allow for the rehabilitation of irrigation dams.	High	Medium	Need more information
3.4	Knowledge Gap: Continue updating the barrier prioritization model		Very high	High	Effective
3.5	Knowledge Gap: Assess dams to determine whether they exist and are truly blocking fish habitat	All known and mapped dams in areas with mapped key habitat have been assessed. No barriers to fish passage identified. Further assessment of McKinley Dam for passage efficiency is recommended.	Very high	High	Effective
3.6	Knowledge Gap: Identify and map dam ownership	All known and mapped dams in areas with mapped key habitat have been assessed. No barriers to fish passage identified.	Very high	Very high	Very effective

Strategy 4: Barrier Prevention

Table 4: Strategy 4

ID	Actions	Details	Feasibility	Impact	Effectiveness
4.1	Explore potential partnerships with industrial companies	Invite industrial players to a workshop on how to apply crossing / lateral barrier BMPs. BMPs could include those that minimize the need for road-stream crossings.	Very high	High	Effective
4.2	Stabilize sediment sources that are explicitly linked to sediment wedges or erosion that are acting as barriers	This could include numerous bank stabilization techniques, including restoring riparian vegetation. This applies to some tributaries that have altered confluence areas - the link needs to be made between confluence alterations and timing of movement for juvenile fish. Local ranchers and B.C. Cattleman's Association could be engaged, as well as forestry licensees.	Very high	Medium	Need more information

Strategy 5: Communication and Education

Table 5: Strategy 5

ID	Actions	Details
5.1	Develop a communication strategy to raise awareness and support for this WCRP	This intervention includes communicating both the WCRP and the collaborative process in developing it, as well as communicating outcomes (e.g., barrier rehabilitation). CNFASAR proposal: - HRR will work with CWF to develop outreach and communications materials, including press releases, social media content, a video, and content for their website - With HRR, CWF will present on fish passage issues and solutions at the annual Horsefly River Salmon Festival

Theories of Change & Objectives

Theories of Change are explicit assumptions about how the identified actions will achieve gains in connectivity and contribute towards reaching the goals of the plan. To develop Theories of Change, the planning team made explicit assumptions for each strategy to clarify the rationale used for undertaking actions and provided an opportunity for feedback on invalid assumptions or missing opportunities. The Theories of Change are results-oriented and clearly define the expected outcome. The following Theories of Change models were developed by the WCRP planning team to “map” the causal (“if-then”) progression of assumptions of how the actions within a strategy work together to achieve project goals.

Figure 2: Theoies of Change model developed by the planning team for the actions identified under Strategy 1: Crossing Rehabilitation in the Horsefly River watershed.

Figure 3: Theoies of Change model developed by the planning team for the actions identified under Strategy 2: Lateral Barrier Rehabilitation in the Horsefly River watershed.

Figure 4: Theoies of Change model developed by the planning team for the actions identified under Strategy 3: Dam Rehabilitation in the Horsefly River watershed.

Figure 5: Theoies of Change model developed by the planning team for the actions identified under Strategy 4: Barrier Prevention in the Horsefly River watershed.