The coming rains should help local migrating salmon.
The Chilliwack River, including its tributaries and channels, has been experiencing low water conditions but this isn’t affecting the adult salmon migration to the Chilliwack River Hatchery, said a Fisheries and Oceans Canada official.
“It is still early in the fall salmon migration so the impact on fish has so far been minimal,” said DFO media spokesperson Carrie Mishima.
The peak spawning time for most salmon is still two weeks to a month away.
Salmon tend to hold off entering freshwater until the fall rains begin, but there have been local reports about chum salmon already returning to the Hope Slough spawning riffle.
Rain is forecast, so water flows should improve soon, said Mishima.
Right across B.C., many streams are experiencing low water flow levels due to ongoing drought conditions.
“The Department is monitoring the situation closely, and to date salmon continue to migrate successfully into most river systems,” she said.
Information on stream flow conditions at http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/. Info on drought conditions in British Columbia is available at http://www.livingwatersmart.ca/drought/.
jfeinberg@theprogress.com