Spring has Sprung!

Spring has sprung in the Whistler valley, and our crew is looking forward to some warmer days in the field. Unlike much of the wildlife in our area, we don’t hibernate in the winter. Instead, we need to get creative to keep our studies going in the snow, including snorkeling in frozen creeks in the middle of the night.

Our crew conducts night snorkels to assess fish presence for independent power projects and other stream works. In the winter, fish move very slowly and are easier to spot and photograph than in the summer when they quickly hide at the first sign of disturbance. Our crew travels in teams of two, wherein one member dons a dry suit, mask, and snorkel while the other watches closely, ready to pull him or her from the frozen creek if needed.

The photos above were taken in Wedge Creek, just north of Whistler in February 2013. Brrrr!!

Wedgemount Lake Survey

Recently, Cascade conducted physical and biological surveys of Wedgemount Lake to determine its fish bearing status. This work was performed as part of the provincial/federal review process for a proposed Independent Power Project (IPP) on Wedgemount Creek.

Cascade staff, led by Candace shown to the left were flown in by helicopter and placed minnow traps around the lake to determine fish presence. In addition they also conducted a bathymetric survey and spot sampling to develop a depth profile, a temperature profile and to determine water chemistry and substrate composition. These surveys enabled us to map several aspects of the lake, learn more about this valuable local recreation spot, and determine that there are no fish in Wedgemount Lake.