British Columbia Landslide Threatens Salmon Migration
A devastating landslide on the Chilcotin River in British Columbia poses a severe threat to the region’s salmon populations, particularly the sockeye salmon, which rely on this river to reach their spawning grounds. The Fraser River in Canada is home to the largest run of sockeye salmon in Canada and a significant population in the Fraser watershed
The landslide will not only physically block their migration route but may also alter the scent cues used for navigation, increasing the mortality risk. Given the uncertainty surrounding the potential consequences of releasing the water behind the landslide, concerns rise about the fate of these fish. The situation has created significant uncertainty about their survival, especially as they confront increasing temperatures and dwindling energy reserves while awaiting their spawning areas. Other fish species, like Chinook salmon and steelhead, which also use this migration route, are at risk.
The government is devising strategies to safeguard salmon populations impacted by the landslide on the Chilcotin River. However, the scarcity of viable options available before the collapse of the landslide-formed dam imposes limitations. This situation is similar to a previous landslide on the Fraser River in 2019, where emergency measures like transporting salmon past the obstruction and creating a fishway were necessary to save key salmon populations. Perhaps once again, drastic interventions might be necessary to mitigate severe damage to salmon attempting to reach their spawning grounds.
Cited from BC Landslide
Image Credit: Barbara Jackson from Pixabay via Canva
