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FINAL REPORT
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program – Peace Colloquium PF15‐F01
Prepared for:
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
Prepared by:
Al Wiensczyk and Dr. Darwyn Coxson
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute University of Northern British Columbia
Prepared with financial support of the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program on behalf of its program partners BC Hydro, the Province of BC, Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, First Nations, and public stakeholders.
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Executive Summary
This project continues a long relationship between the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
Institute (NRESi) at UNBC and the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program ‐ Peace (FWCP‐Peace)
(previously B.C. Hydro) with the delivery of 3 research colloquium presentations. These presentations
provided an education and outreach venue where we could discuss emerging research projects and the
current state of knowledge on natural resource issues relating to the FWCP‐Peace mandate area. The
presentations provided an opportunity to develop relationships between UNBC and local stakeholders
and to assess current FWCP‐Peace information needs. The project addressed the FWCP‐Peace’s strategic
objective to increase community engagement by building and maintaining relationships with
stakeholders and aboriginal communities. Dexter Hodder (John Prince Research Forest) presented the
results of his and Shannon Crowley’s research on “Using meso‐carnivores as a measure of change in
forest ecosystems: A case study from the John Prince Research Forest” in Mackenzie, British Columbia
on February 25, 2016. Dr. Mark Shrimpton (University of Northern British Columbia) made a
presentation on a “A Tale of three fish: A migrant, an invader, and a resident” in Fort St John, on March
4, 2016 and Dr. Karen Kidd (University of New Brunswick) presented in Prince George on March 21, 2016
on her research on “Local through global influences on mercury in fish.” Each of the three presentations
were well attended by a broad cross‐section of the local community members representing various
interest‐areas (e.g., industry, academia, First Nations, government, general public) and generated many
questions and interesting post‐presentation discussions. The three topics presented also contributed to
the achievement of Objective 2 in the Peace Basin Species of Interest Action Plan, and sub‐objectives 1a,
2a, and 3a of the Peace Basin Reservoirs Action Plan. It is recommended that this project be continued
in the future. Future presentation topics could include previously funded Peace Fish and Wildlife
Compensation Program project results. Participation by Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
board and committee members should be encouraged.
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Goals and Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 4
Study Area ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Methods........................................................................................................................................... 5
Results and Outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 6
Mackenzie ................................................................................................................................... 6
Fort St John ................................................................................................................................. 6
Prince George.............................................................................................................................. 7
Discussion ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Recommendations ........................................................................................................................... 8
Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... 8
References ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Confirmation of FWCP Recognition ............................................................................................ 10
List of Figures
Figure 1. Poster for Mackenzie Presentation ............................................................................... 10
Figure 2. Poster for Fort St John Presentation .............................................................................. 11
Figure 3. Poster for Prince George Presentation .......................................................................... 12
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Introduction The Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute (NRESi) at UNBC has had a long relationship
with the FWCP‐Peace and previously B.C. Hydro to provide extension of knowledge concerning relevant
topics in the Peace Williston area. Together, they have hosted 10 lectures, providing the opportunity to
share knowledge and creating networking opportunities. This project continues that relationship with
the delivery of 3 presentations aimed at providing an education and outreach venue for building
connections and developing relationships with those who have an interest in the area, as well as
providing an opportunity to share knowledge and expertise that is being developed in or could be
applied to the Peace region. It addresses the need identified in the Peace Basin Action Plan to increase
community engagement by building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and aboriginal
communities, recognizing the important of engaging aboriginal communities, local stakeholders, and
other interest groups to contribute toward making good decisions and delivering effective projects. The
project also addresses the identified need to improve science and knowledge by allowing researchers to
share and discuss their latest research findings with others with similar interests and thus foster
productive interactions among the Compensation Program staff, the public, research consultants, and
the academic community.
Goals and Objectives The goal of this project is to share knowledge and information and to provide a venue for networking
and open discussion of fish and wildlife research results and management implications which will help to
improve the management of fish and/or wildlife in both the short‐ and long term.
The objectives of the project were to;
1) Provide an important extension vehicle for the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, 2) Increase community engagement by fostering productive interactions and dialogue among the
Compensation program research staff, the public, First Nations, industry, the consulting community, and academia, and
3) Inform local communities and agencies on the best practices from other jurisdictions and communities regarding the strategic priorities of the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
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Study Area As this project consisted of a series of three presentations, there is no study area for this project per se.
However, sponsored presentations were held in three northern British Columbia communities,
Mackenzie, Fort St John, and Prince George. In addition, the Prince George presentation was Live
Streamed over the internet, thus making it available to interested people not able to attend the
presentation in person.
Methods A series of 3 evening talks were organized, one in each of the following locations in British Columbia:
Mackenzie, Fort St. John, and Prince George. Presentation topics were chosen in consultation with the
FWCP‐Peace Board and First Nations Working Group, choosing themes that supported FWCP‐Peace
strategic research directions, while illustrating new and emerging themes within the scientific
community as they apply to the FWCP‐Peace area. Speakers were identified to address those themes
and were contacted to determine their interest and availability. Once presentation dates were
determined, venues were contacted and booked, and arrangements made for catering. For the events in
Mackenzie and Fort St John, catering consisted of basic refreshments (e.g., coffee, tea, cookies, muffins,
etc), while for the Prince George event, a pre‐event buffet dinner was held for invited guests and
dignitaries. For the Prince George event, held at the University of Northern British Columbia,
arrangements for Live Streaming and recording of the presentation were made with the Educational
Media Services department.
Events were advertised via local media in Mackenzie, Fort St John and Prince George, in the Natural
Resource and Environmental Studies Institute’s bi‐weekly newsletter, and through posters (see section
10 for samples) hung at various public locations in Mackenzie, Fort St John and on the UNBC Prince
George campus. In addition, email announcements were distributed to First Nations, Industry,
Government and general public contacts in Mackenzie, Fort St John and Prince George. Email
announcements were also sent to the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Board and First
Nations Working Group.
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Results and Outcomes
Mackenzie The Mackenzie presentation took place on Thursday, February 25, 2016 in the conference room at the
Mackenzie Recreation Centre. Dexter Hodder (John Prince Research Forest) presented the results of his
and Shannon Crowley’s research on “Using meso‐carnivores as a measure of change in forest
ecosystems: A case study from the John Prince Research Forest.” Mr. Hodder spoke about the use of
four indicator species, Northern River Otter, American Mink, American Marten and Canada Lynx, in long‐
term monitoring programs designed to help understand the impacts of human activities on forest
ecosystems. Preliminary results from Dexter and Shannon’s research suggest that these animals have
different niche habitat associations and that their distributions may be affected by their interactions
with each other. The engaging presentation, which included video footage of the four species, captured
via motion‐sensor‐triggered cameras at the bait stations, generated much discussion and interest
among the 22 people in attendance. Attendees included representatives from the forest industry
(Canadian Forest Products Ltd., Conifex, and BC Timber Sales), the Mackenzie Community Forest, the
Provincial government, academia, the consulting community, the BC Trappers Association, the
Mackenzie Nature Observatory, and the general public.
Fort St John The Fort St John presentation was held on Friday, March 4, 2016 at the LIDO theatre in Fort St. John,
British Columbia. Dr. Mark Shrimpton (University of Northern British Columbia) made a presentation to
30 people in attendance on a “A Tale of three fish: A migrant, an invader, and a resident”. Dr. Shrimpton
discussed the insight provided by three fish species, the Arctic grayling, Kokanee, and the slimy sculpin
about the suitability of the Williston Reservoir for fish habitat. Mark’s research has demonstrated that
fish exhibit habitat shifts during development and also migrate seasonably among habitats and
concluded that understanding habitat requirements for fish in natural systems is important for effective
management, particularly in areas affected by anthropogenic disturbance. Presentation attendees
included representatives from the forest industry (Canadian Forest Products Ltd, and BC Timber Sales),
West Moberly First Nations, the Provincial government, the Peace River Branch of the Association of
Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEG), and the general public. The Peace River Branch
of APEG was a project partner for this presentation, providing advertising assistance.
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Prince George Dr. Karen Kidd (University of New Brunswick) spoke on “Local through global influences on mercury in
fish” to over 60 people at the University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George campus, on
Monday, March 21, 2016. Her presentation described the local through global processes, including fish
growth, diet and lifespan, chemical, geological, and physical characteristics of systems, and human
activities (e.g., reservoir creation, gold mining) that drive mercury in fish as well as how this contaminant
may respond to climate change, and what we still do not understand about its fate in freshwaters. Dr.
Kidd also described comparisons of lake ecosystems from the Arctic and temperate regions of Canada
and put her research into a global context. Attendees included faculty, graduate and undergraduate
students, and representatives from the forest industry, the consulting community, local First Nations,
the Provincial government, and the general public. In addition, based on post‐meeting email
correspondence it is known that a few people also listened/viewed the presentation via the Live Stream
feed but unfortunately it is not possible to determine an exact number. To date, eleven people have
viewed the presentation on the NRESi’s You‐tube channel
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUmR3qdQHU8) since it was posted on March 30, 2016.
Prior to Dr. Kidd’s presentation Dr. Darwyn Coxson made a brief presentation on the Natural Resources
and Environmental Studies Institute and on the Peace‐Williston Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program
on behalf of Dan Bouillon who was unable to attend the presentation due to poor weather and
dangerous travel conditions.
Discussion This project was successfully delivered and achieved the project’s objectives of providing an important
extension vehicle for the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, increasing community
engagement by fostering productive interactions and dialogue among the Compensation program
research staff, the public, First Nations, industry, the consulting community, and academia, and
informing local communities and agencies on the best practices from other jurisdictions and
communities regarding the strategic priorities of the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program.
Each of the three presentations were very well attended by a broad cross‐section of the local
community members representing various interest‐areas (e.g., industry, academia, First Nations,
government, general public) and generated many questions and interesting post‐presentation
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discussions, thereby contributing to the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program’s strategic objective to
build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and aboriginal communities. However, lacking in
attendance were members of the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program board or its
committees, although adverse weather and resultant poor highway driving conditions did play a role in
this lack of attendance.
The three topics presented in this year’s colloquium series also addressed several of the objectives
described in the Peace Basin Action Plans. Specifically, the presentation by Dexter Hodder on monitoring
the impacts of human activities on furbearer habitat contributed to the achievement of Objective 2 in
the Peace Basin Species of Interest Action Plan to protect and enhance populations of important
furbearers (Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program 2014a). The presentation by Dr. Mark Shrimpton
on three species of fish (Arctic Grayling, Kokanee, and the spiny sculpin) in the Williston Reservoir
contributed to the achievement of Sub‐objective 1a. Conserve native species and prevent those of
concern from becoming further at risk, and Sub‐objective 2a. Understand the effects of Kokanee
introductions on the aquatic food web, and the presentation by Dr. Karen Kidd on local through global
influences on mercury in fish contributed to the achievement of sub‐objective 3a. Improve
understanding of mercury concentrations, contamination pathways, and potential effects on human
health and the broader ecosystem in the Peace Basin Reservoirs Action Plan (Fish and Wildlife
Compensation Program 2014b).
Recommendations It is recommended that this project be continued in the future. Future presentation topics could include
previously funded Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program project results. Participation by Peace
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program board and committee members should be encouraged.
Acknowledgements Thanks to the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program for the financial support for this project.
Thanks also to the Peace River Branch of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC for their
assistance with the colloquium presentation in Fort St John.
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References Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. 2014a. Peace Basin. Species of Interest Action Plan. BC Hydro.
24pp. http://fwcp.ca/app/uploads/2015/07/fwcp‐peace‐species‐of‐interest‐action‐plan‐march‐31‐2014.pdf
Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. 2014b. Peach Basin. Reservoirs Action Plan. BC Hydro. 33 pp.
http://fwcp.ca/app/uploads/2015/07/fwcp‐peace‐reservoirs‐action‐plan‐march‐31‐2014.pdf
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Confirmation of FWCP Recognition
Figure 1. Poster for Mackenzie Presentation
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Figure 2. Poster for Fort St John Presentation
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Figure 3. Poster for Prince George Presentation
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UNBC Information Release to Prince George media regarding Dr. Karen Kidd’s presentation Hello reporter: Local through global influences on mercury in fish is the subject of a public presentation at UNBC on Monday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. The lecture will be presented by Dr. Karen Kidd from the University of New Brunswick’s Biology department and the Canadian Rivers Institute based in Saint John. Organized by UNBC’s Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Institute, and sponsored by the Peace Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, the free lecture in Rm. 7‐212 is for anyone with an interest in learning more about mercury in fish in different freshwater ecosystems. “This presentation will describe the local through global processes that drive mercury in fish, how this contaminant may respond to climate change, and what we still do not understand about its fate in fresh waters,” said Dr. Kidd. “I will describe our comparisons of lake ecosystems from the Arctic and temperate regions of Canada and put this research into a global context.” She added that fish consumption is the main route of human exposure of mercury. Dr. Kidd is available to speak to the media anytime on Monday, March 21 prior to her presentation. BACKGROUNDER Freshwater fishes are highly variable in their concentrations of mercury, even within a region. Some of the differences can be explained by the biological traits of the fish (growth, diet, lifespan), and the chemical, geological and physical characteristics of the systems. However, human activities such as the creation of reservoirs, electricity generation and gold mining also result in both locally contaminated areas and increases the global cycling of mercury – methylmercury – is known to affect the nervous system and reproduction in fish‐eating wildlife and humans, and the fish themselves. The Minamata Convention on Mercury ‐‐ a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury ‐‐ was signed on January, 2013 in Geneva Switzerland. As it comes into effect, scientists say we should see declines in mercury in fish and reductions in risks to fish consumers, but the rate of this decline is unclear. Contact information: Dr. Karen Kidd, University of New Brunswick 506‐650‐0973 Al Wiensczyk, Research Manager, UNBC NRESI 250‐614‐4354 | [email protected]
