Exploring British Columbia’s Other Sturgeon Rivers
The Fraser River, with its world-renowned, thriving population of white sturgeon, deservedly holds a legendary status among anglers and conservationists. The opportunity to connect with these prehistoric giants in a carefully managed catch-and-release fishery is a unique and cherished British Columbian experience. Yet, the story of sturgeon in this province extends beyond the banks of the Fraser, flowing through other powerful and historic river systems.
While the Fraser remains the only river in British Columbia with a recreational sturgeon fishery, understanding the populations in other watersheds is crucial for a complete appreciation of these magnificent fish and the conservation challenges they face. This article delves into the other B.C. rivers that are home to sturgeon, exploring their unique ecosystems, the status of their sturgeon populations, and the vital conservation efforts underway to protect them.
The Upper Columbia River: A Transboundary Treasure with a Precarious Future
Flowing from the Rocky Mountains down through the Kootenays and into the United States, the Columbia River is another of North America’s great waterways that historically boasted a robust sturgeon population. Today, the white sturgeon of the Upper Columbia River in British Columbia are a transboundary population, sharing their habitat with Washington State.
The construction of a series of hydroelectric dams on both sides of the border has had a profound impact on these fish, fragmenting their habitat and isolating populations between reservoirs. This has disrupted their natural migration patterns for spawning and feeding, leading to a significant decline in their numbers. As a result, the Upper Columbia white sturgeon are listed as an endangered species under Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
Unlike the lower and middle Fraser, where sturgeon populations are healthy enough to support a recreational fishery, angling for sturgeon on the Canadian portion of the Columbia River is closed. Decades of research, including population studies and tracking of fish movements, have informed a collaborative, international effort to aid in their recovery. The primary known spawning site for these fish in British Columbia is near the Waneta Dam, a critical area for ongoing monitoring and research. The story of the Columbia’s sturgeon is a stark reminder of how human development can impact these ancient fish and underscores the importance of habitat restoration and international cooperation in their conservation.
The Kootenay River: A Fight for Survival
The Kootenay River, a major tributary of the Columbia, is home to a distinct and critically endangered population of white sturgeon. The situation for these fish is dire; there has been no successful natural reproduction in the Kootenay River since the construction of the Libby Dam in Montana in the early 1970s. The dam altered the river’s flow and temperature regimes, and trapped nutrient-rich sediments, which are all crucial for successful spawning and the survival of young sturgeon.
The remaining population is comprised of aging adults, and without intervention, they face certain extinction. In response, a multi-faceted international recovery program is in place. This includes a conservation hatchery program in Idaho that raises young sturgeon from Kootenay River broodstock for release back into the river. These efforts are a lifeline for the population, aiming to preserve the genetic diversity of these unique fish while researchers work to restore suitable spawning habitat in the river. Angling for sturgeon in the Kootenay River is strictly prohibited, with all efforts focused on saving this fragile population from the brink.
The Nechako River: A Community Rallies for an Endangered Icon
In the northern interior of British Columbia, the Nechako River, a major tributary of the Fraser, has its own distinct and endangered population of white sturgeon. Similar to the Kootenay and Columbia systems, the Nechako’s sturgeon have suffered from changes to the river’s flow due to the construction of the Kenney Dam in the 1950s. This has led to a collapse in recruitment, meaning very few young sturgeon are surviving to adulthood.
In response, the Nechako White Sturgeon Recovery Initiative, a partnership between First Nations, government agencies, and local community groups, was formed. A key component of this initiative is the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre in Vanderhoof. This facility raises juvenile sturgeon from wild-caught parents, giving them a head start before releasing them back into the river. This “living gene bank” is a critical stop-gap measure to prevent the population from disappearing while long-term solutions for habitat restoration are sought. The community’s dedication to the survival of the Nechako sturgeon is a powerful example of local stewardship in action. As with the other endangered populations, all fishing for sturgeon in the Nechako River is closed.
The Skeena River and the Enigmatic Green Sturgeon
While the Fraser, Columbia, Kootenay, and Nechako are home to white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus), another species, the green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris), is occasionally found in some of British Columbia’s coastal rivers, most notably the Skeena. The green sturgeon is an anadromous species, spending most of its life in the ocean and returning to freshwater to spawn.
However, there is currently no evidence that green sturgeon spawn in any Canadian rivers. The individuals found in the Skeena and other coastal waters are believed to be from spawning populations in rivers in Oregon and California. Due to their low numbers and conservation concerns in their home rivers, the green sturgeon is also listed as a species of special concern in Canada. Encounters with these fish are rare, and there is no targeted fishery for them.
A Province-Wide Perspective on Sturgeon Conservation
Exploring the stories of sturgeon beyond the Fraser River paints a broader and more complex picture of their status in British Columbia. It highlights that while the Fraser fishery is a model of sustainable recreational angling and citizen-science, other populations are in a precarious state, facing significant threats to their long-term survival.
These “other” rivers serve as a powerful reminder of the vulnerability of sturgeon to habitat alteration and the critical importance of conservation efforts. The dedicated work of First Nations, scientists, governments, and local communities on the Columbia, Kootenay, and Nechako rivers is a testament to the value British Columbians place on these incredible fish. As we celebrate the success of the Fraser River sturgeon fishery, we must also champion the cause of their less fortunate cousins in other watersheds, ensuring that these ancient mariners continue to grace all of their home rivers for generations to come.