Potential of Trout Unlimited in Northern Alberta - Steven Griffeth

Potential of Trout Unlimited
        in Northern Alberta

                   Steven Griffeth

Steven Griffeth, B.I.T.
• Only a member of TU, not employee
• Also a Member of Ducks Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters
 and Anglers
• Participated in a number of TU events
  • Garbage Clean ups at Leases
  • Bank restoration project
  • Invasive weed Control

Presentation Overview
• PCFF becoming the new Northern Alberta Chapter of Trout Unlimited
• History of Trout Unlimited
• Trout Unlimited in Alberta
• What would not change/what could change
• Benefits of a TU chapter and Potential Projects
• North Central Native Trout Recovery Program
• Conclusion

Trout Unlimited

• Created in 1959 by concerned American
 fisherman
• Concerned about stocking of “cookie
 cutter” trout and outcompeting native
 fish
• Using good science to provide
 recommendations and programs

Trout Unlimited in Canada
• Created in 1972 by 7 concerned Montreal fisherman
• May 1980 – First Restoration Project – Toronto Chapter
• 2003 – Creation of National Resource Advisory Board
• 2007 – First dam removal on Whitemans Creek, Ontario
   • Reconnecting 1558km of river
• Multiple Fisheries Awards

Trout Unlimited in Canada
• 22 Chapters in Canada
• Includes British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan,
 Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and
 the Northwest Territories
• 1215 miles of water reconnected
• 880000 Fish saved
• 620000 Volunteer hours

Trout Unlimited in Alberta
• First Chapter in 1978 (Edmonton)
• First fish rescue in 1998 – Southern Alberta irrigation canals
• 2011 – Arctic Grayling workshop in Grande Prairie, AB
• Northern Lights Fly Fishers (Edmonton) receives Federal
  Recreational Fisheries award for work on Arctic Grayling
  protection
• 2015 – Prairie Creek connectivity restored

Trout Unlimited in Alberta
• 5 Chapters in Alberta              • Capture of 100 Westslope Cutthroat
                                       trout for transport to new lake
   •   Bow Headwaters Chapter
   •   Bow River Chapter
                                     • Fish Creek Restoration Project
   •   Central Alberta Chapter
                                     • Alberta Stream Watch Project for
                                       education and enforcement
   •   Northern Lights Fly Fishers
   •   Oldman River Chapter
                                     • Protection of 4km along the Crowsnest
                                       River

Northern Lights Fly Fishers
• 2010 Merge between Northern Lights Fly Fishers and the Edmonton Trout
  Unlimited Chapter
• Collection of Arctic Grayling data in the Pembina River
• Redd counts along the Raven and North Raven Rivers
• Promotion of fly fishing and conservation through fly tying nights
• Fly fishing days and other fishing events
• Edmonton National TUC Dinner and Auction
• Volunteer angling, PIT tagging, water temperature monitoring and other data
  collection for 5 year project on Arctic Grayling

Does the Peace Country Fly Fishers
Association want to transition into the
new Northwest Alberta Trout Unlimited
              Chapter?

   Peace Country Fly Fishers – Trout
          Unlimited Chapter

Peace Country Fly Fishers
• What will NOT change
  • Name: Peace Country Fly Fishers – TUC Chapter
  • Fly tying nights, fishing days, member and guest presentations
  • Educational events, trade shows
  • If there is anything specific, feel free to ask at the end of the
    presentation or follow up with me later!

Peace Country Fly Fishers
• What COULD change
  • Increased volunteer opportunities for fisheries research and conservation
      • Restoration projects, data collection, working with
       government/ACA/other chapters
  • New fundraising ideas and opportunities
  • New event ideas and opprotunities
  • Hierarchy of the group
     • Vice-president, secretary, project managers, directors at large
  • New logo, changes to website, under TU banner

Benefits of a Trout Unlimited
                   Chapter
• Spread the history of the Peace Country Fly fishers
  Association
• Local knowledge spread to other chapters
   •   Fly tying videos, presentations, other ideas
• Resources and knowledge from TU and other chapters
   •   Field work and fishing knowledge, new presentations, people
       and money for conservation work
• Participate in conservation efforts and new, interesting
  field work
   •   Electrofishing, willow staking, bank stabilization, PIT tagging,
       ect…

Potential Projects
• Small and Local Projects
   • River and Lake shoreline clean ups
   • Educational Nights with fly tying and Casting clinics
      • Presentations on fly fishing and/or conservation
   • Fundraising supper and auction, Vegas night, new ideas!

Potential Projects
• Big Picture Ideas
  • Connectivity Restoration including potential 2018 project in the Little
    Smokey Watershed
  • Sample Angling for Arctic Grayling Research
  • Bull Trout population research in the Kakwa, around Grande Cache
     • Redd surveys, sample angling, electrofishing with TUC employees
  • Other ideas!

North Central Native Trout Recovery
• Supports AEP’s increased focus on conserving native trout
• Believes ALL stakeholders should be more strategic and focused
   •   This includes working with them on a variety of issues affecting native trout
       populations, not just anglers and AEP
• Partner with these stakeholders and provide support
• Mention how anglers are foremost activists for improved habitat
  management

TU Supports angling closures with
   following questions and concerns…
• Land use and habitat:
   •   How will future land use planning support recovery efforts and limit habitat
       degradation (i.e. build fewer roads, better road crossings, etc.)?
   •   Meaningful improvements to the fish populations in the Kakwa River watershed
       require habitat improvement and management as part of an effective plan;
   •   Expand or create Public Land Use Zone designations (PLUZ) allowing the Province to
       better regulate activities on public lands including designating OHV trails;
   •   Review and update Alberta Timber Harvest Operating Ground Rules to better protect
       fish habitat (i.e. protect riparian buffers on ephemeral streams); and
   •   Remove, replace, or remediate culverts along provincial roadways that are
       fragmenting and degrading fish habitat.

TU Supports angling closures with
     following questions and concerns…
•   Fishing closures and angling:
     •   Commit to sharing results of this pilot with all stakeholders including the public;
     •   Commit to re-opening angling within pilot watersheds after 5 years, unless the results of
         monitoring data clearly support extending closures;
     •   During closure period, explore other management opportunities to address angling related
         mortality, for example:
          •   A special licence or stamp for fishing sensitive populations (example: an East Slopes Fishing
              Licence with surcharge to support recovery efforts) which includes mandatory education as a
              prerequisite on fish identification, ethics/best practices;
          •   A draw-based system to limit angling pressure and harvest on high priority streams;
          •   Consider opportunities to create and/or expand angling opportunities elsewhere to take pressure
              off wild and native fisheries;
          •   Other strategies such as seasonal closures, gear restrictions, limiting access (i.e. road closures
              and reclamation, OHV trail closures and reclamation).

TU Supports angling closures with
  following questions and concerns…
• Poaching:
   •   Increase enforcement within closed waters to limit poaching and ensure closures
       achieve meaningful results;
   •   Educate prosecutors and the judiciary on conservation issues and encourage increased
       penalties/fines for poachers (legislation already empowers this);
   •   Increase accessibility and marketing of the Report-A-Poacher program to encourage
       reporting of all reportable offences;

Alberta Backcountry Hunters and
              Anglers
• Group does not support the angling closures in the NCNT Recovery Plan
• New Alberta chapter created in 2017
• “Hunting and fishing the hard way”
• Collaboration on projects in the Northwest
• Hoping for presentation and “pint night” in future
• https://www.backcountryhunters.org/alberta_chapter

Bits and Pieces
• Membership costs - $40
   •   Initial Membership fees stay in the chapter
   •   New Members – Chapters keep half of new
       membership fees
   •   Annual fee for facilities?
• Area would be north of the Northern Lights Fly
  Fishers region
• Individuals can be as active as they want and
  continue to participate freely
• Have fun and be part of the conservation effort
  to protect native fish and fish habitat

Conclusion
• TU has a storied history of fisheries conservation in Canada and
  Alberta
• Keep the storied history of PCFF and the typical events we enjoy
• Potential of fun projects that positively impact fish and fish habitat
• Fundraising for conservation efforts
• NCNT Recovery Program
• Finally, why conservation groups like TU are important…

Why Trout Unlimited and Conservation
    Groups are Important to Me
• United effort in the conservation fight
• Species at Risk
   •   Loss of native species
   •   Genetic diversity
• Habitat loss and fragmentation
   •   Connectivity issues preventing gene flow
   •   Barriers to Migration
   •   Issues related to sediment, water temperature,
       loss of spawning habitat
• Future Fishing and Hunting Opportunities

“Take care of the fish, and the
fishing will take care of itself”
        – Art Neumann

     Co-Founder of Trout
         Unlimited

Thank you!
• Look forward to working with you at future meetings and
  events
• Questions now!
• Questions Later:
  • steve.griffeth@outlook.com
  • 403-634-6837
• Trout Unlimited Website: tucanada.org
• Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Alberta
 Chapter:backcountryhunters.org/alberta_chapter

References
• Trout Unlimited website: tucanada.org
• BHA Alberta Chapter: backcountryhunters.org/alberta_chapter
• North Central Native Trout Recovery: http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-
  wildlife/fisheries-management/north-central-native-trout-
  recovery/default.aspx
• Photos: Trout Unlimited, Steven Griffeth