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Dams are part of the solution in this article
Pine beetle infestation impacting salmon runs
Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
VANCOUVER - If the heat of climate change weren't enough of a danger to Pacific salmon, scientists are cataloging how the effects of the global-warming-aided mountain pine beetle infestation are adding to salmon's woes.
The grain-of-rice-sized beetles have chewed through interior pine forests covering an area four-times the size of Vancouver Island, a report released Tuesday by the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council notes.
Some 60 per cent of the Fraser River watershed is affected, with loss of forest cover over salmon streams that has led to numerous impacts that "significantly alter the watershed's ecology, threatening already stressed salmon runs."
Because the enormous pine forests are dead or dying, the tree boughs don't intercept snow and rain, or shade the forest floor to slow the spring snow-melt.
The result is bigger snow packs, more rapid snow melts leading to flash flooding and higher peak stream flows that erode streams.
Then rapid runoffs mean more summer droughts, combined with higher summer water temperatures, the report notes.
However, while the situation seems dire, Gordon Ennis, managing director of the conservation council said the intent of the report isn't to instill hopelesssness.
The council wants to educate the public on the seriousness of the salmon's plight, but also highlight the importance of doing the things that are within humans' control to help the salmon's survival.
"We would be very concerned if the message is so negative that people throw their hands up," Ennis said in an interview.
Instead, the council wants to encourage efforts such as more careful development, reforestation to put shade trees over important fish habitat and using hydro dams to release temperature-cooling flows on streams that have dams and fish populations.
On the public policy front, Ennis added that the B.C. Water Act needs to be updated with a mind to ensuring adequate water is left in streams for ecological purposes including nurturing fish.
Pine beetle infestation impacting salmon runs
Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, March 25, 2008
VANCOUVER - If the heat of climate change weren't enough of a danger to Pacific salmon, scientists are cataloging how the effects of the global-warming-aided mountain pine beetle infestation are adding to salmon's woes.
The grain-of-rice-sized beetles have chewed through interior pine forests covering an area four-times the size of Vancouver Island, a report released Tuesday by the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council notes.
Some 60 per cent of the Fraser River watershed is affected, with loss of forest cover over salmon streams that has led to numerous impacts that "significantly alter the watershed's ecology, threatening already stressed salmon runs."
Because the enormous pine forests are dead or dying, the tree boughs don't intercept snow and rain, or shade the forest floor to slow the spring snow-melt.
The result is bigger snow packs, more rapid snow melts leading to flash flooding and higher peak stream flows that erode streams.
Then rapid runoffs mean more summer droughts, combined with higher summer water temperatures, the report notes.
However, while the situation seems dire, Gordon Ennis, managing director of the conservation council said the intent of the report isn't to instill hopelesssness.
The council wants to educate the public on the seriousness of the salmon's plight, but also highlight the importance of doing the things that are within humans' control to help the salmon's survival.
"We would be very concerned if the message is so negative that people throw their hands up," Ennis said in an interview.
Instead, the council wants to encourage efforts such as more careful development, reforestation to put shade trees over important fish habitat and using hydro dams to release temperature-cooling flows on streams that have dams and fish populations.
On the public policy front, Ennis added that the B.C. Water Act needs to be updated with a mind to ensuring adequate water is left in streams for ecological purposes including nurturing fish.
