Credit: Government of B.C.
Salmon

Salmon making good progress around Fraser slide site

Sep 1, 2020 | 5:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — Officials say salmon are making good progress migrating past the site of a landslide on the Fraser River that decimated runs last year.

Michael Crowe, manager of biological programs for the Big Bar landslide response, says crews have done everything they can to ensure fish face only minimal delays thanks to efforts like rock blasting over the winter and the establishment of alternative passageways.

River flows this spring and summer that were too powerful for natural migration created overall delays in movement through the Fraser River system and some returns like sockeye have been lower than anticipated.
However, Crowe says once the flows dropped below about 5,500 cubic metres per second, returning fish were able to continue their migration upstream.

Those that reach the Big Bar landslide site have taken several routes past the obstruction, including migrating on their own or swimming into a fish cannon.