Volunteer Angling Opportunity Stewardship License Pilot Project

Volunteer Angling Opportunity – Stewardship License Pilot Project

Trout Unlimited Canada (TUC) and the Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD) have teamed up on a project to restore native Westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout in selected foothills streams. The Stewardship License Pilot Project, which began in 2009, was developed based on the successes of the Quirk Creek Brook Trout Suppression Project, which was initiated in 1998.

Project Background:

Quirk Creek, a tributary of the upper Elbow River at one time contained only native cutthroat trout and bull trout. Brook trout were introduced into the Elbow River in the 1940’s; by 1978 they were well established in Quirk Creek, comprising 23% of the fish population. By 1995, brook trout made up 92% of the fish population. Since 1998, anglers have removed over 9,500 brook trout from the creek, and by 2008 the proportion of brook trout in the lower reach of the creek had declined to 30%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the project.

What’s wrong with brook trout?

Brook trout, native to eastern North America were introduced throughout the Alberta in the early 20th century and are now well established in many foothills streams. Brook trout compete with native cutthroat trout and bull trout for resources and habitat. They also spawn at a much younger age and smaller size and as a result do not grow as large as the bull trout and cutthroat trout. Streams overrun with non-native brook trout have an inferior fishery for smaller, less catchable fish. The goal of this project is to restore the natural balance in these ecosystems and to pass on a high quality, native trout fisheryto future generations.

How Can You Help?

The success of the Stewardship License Project relies on the participation of volunteer anglers to capture and remove non-native brook trout. To participate in the project, volunteers must complete the “Quirk Creek Fish Identification Test” by correctly identifying 16 photographs of cutthroat, bull, and brook trout. After passing the test, anglers must complete at least one supervised outing with a TUC or AESRD biologist before being issued your Stewardship License. The Stewardship License will authorize you to harvest an unlimited number of brook trout from certain foothills streams including: Meadow, Margaret and Johnson creeks (tributariesto Waiparous Creek), Waiparous Creek, the Elbow River (river only) upstream of Elbow Falls, QuirkCreek (downstream of the Mac Creek bridge), and Willow Creek and its tributaries upstream of theHwy 532 bridge. Because this is an ongoing research project, volunteer anglers are also issued creel cards and asked to keep track of their effort and catch results.

If anyone would like to take the fish identification test or learn more about the project, please contact Lesley Peterson (). Lesley will organize a special “supervised outing” through Trout Unlimited Canada for CWFF members that would like to obtain this special harvest licence. The outing will likely take place at Willow Creek, which is west of Chain Lakes, after June 15.