 Conservationists have worked for years to
restore the Souris River. (CBC) | Conservation groups are releasing 15,000 Atlantic salmon into P.E.I. rivers this year, including the Souris River, where there have been no salmon since 2001. About 4,000 Atlantic salmon are being put back in the Souris River this week, the culmination of years of work to restore it. "The habitat is usually fast flowing, broken water. It's great habitat for salmon," Todd Dupuis of the Atlantic Salmon Federation told CBC News on Wednesday. "Because there's no salmon, it's almost like barren habitat. It's like open house for these young salmon. Hopefully, it will catch on." |
Wild Atlantic salmon have been in decline throughout the Maritimes for decades. On P.E.I., poaching and beaver dams are partly to blame. But it was a big fish kill in 2001 that finished them off in the Souris.
"We did a lot of restoration in the last four years in Souris River," said Fred Cheverie, watershed co-ordinator for the Souris and Area branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation.
"We've probably removed approximately 40 beaver dams in the east and west branch in the last four years. We removed the beavers. We've got these two branches of the Souris River working quite well right now."
Working toward ideal conditions
The rehabilitation project is being combined with a scientific study, with efforts being made to further improve the habitat.
Fred Cheverie wants to know if
habitat improvements will help
the salmon survive. (CBC) | The first concern was rainbow trout, which compete with salmon for habitat. Using electrofishing, shocking the river to stun the fish, workers removed about 200 rainbow trout to a nearby pond. Researchers want to know if a reduction in trout gives salmon a boost. They have also installed digger logs. "When the water flows over the digger log, it will cut a deep gouge behind it," said Cheverie.
"That's an area that becomes a great place for Atlantic salmon and other fish to winter." Researchers will be tracking the effects of these improvements in the hopes they will help the young fish return to spawn, and bring new life to the river for years to come. |
From the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation August 19, 2009
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