By Dave Barry

Salmon migration

Public asked to avoid Big Bar landslide area ahead of long weekend

Aug 2, 2019 | 4:41 PM

KAMLOOPS — The public is being asked avoid the area around the Big Bar landslide along the Fraser River through the B.C. Day long weekend.

That’s where officials are trying to rehabilitate the river bed to allow tens of thousands of migrating salmon to reach their spawning grounds.

Officials say the public can unwittingly interfere with the work, putting themselves and the work crews in danger.

The Kitsumkalum fish wheel has been placed into the river near the slide and is being calibrated. It is expected to be fully operational by Saturday.

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An ongoing operation to capture and transport salmon upstream of the slide is also continuing. 3,100 salmon have now been moved through the troubled area.

Acoustic monitoring equipment identifying thousands more salmon have arrived at the base of the slide area, waiting for a safe passage way through the slide area. Approximately 40 thousand fish had been counted as of Wednesday and thousands more are said to be arriving daily.

The landslide was discovered in June. However it’s believed the slide occurred last fall when a large piece of the canyon wall fell into the river. It narrowed the river and created a five metre waterfall, making it virtually impossible for salmon to pass.

The work to rehabilitate the river bed through the slide area is being overseen and conducted by scientists, biologists and salmon experts representing federal, provincial and indigenous governments.