Beaver River Drainage Basin Historical Fishing Survey Results

The Beaver River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) is currently developing a fish-based monitoring program for the Beaver River drainage basin in Alberta. As part of this program, Alberta Conservation Association collected historical data dating back more than 60 years on the fisheries in the Beaver, Amisk, and Sand Rivers, through an archival publication and photograph search from online databases and libraries and through interviews with 32 local anglers.

Searching Reports and Other Literature

The literature search produced 27 ecological references on the study water courses. We summarized and focused on five reports that contained detailed information on fish assemblages. One report (Watters 1983) included several informative photographs showing relatively intact riparian conditions at various locations in the study system. Authors of previously published reports suggested that sport fish numbers were low in the late 1970s and early 1980s, possibly due to habitat fragmentation from beaver activity and limited available habitat due to low water flows. Further, the reports indicated that white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) and long-nosed sucker (Catostomus catostomus) were the most widely distributed and abundant species in the study area.

Interviewing Anglers

As part of our angling interview methods, we solicited information from local residents with a poster that notified them of the project, with various public service announcements, and with multiple visits to communities in the Beaver River drainage basin. The following species were caught by interviewed anglers: walleye (Sander vitreus), northern pike (Esox lucius), sucker (Catostomus spp.), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), burbot (Lota lota), sauger (Sander canadensis), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), freshwater crayfish (Orconectes virilis), and freshwater clams (class Bivalvia). Walleye and northern pike have been the most commonly captured and sought after species, although many anglers also caught suckers and perch. Two of the most popular fishing locations appeared to be near Beaver Crossing south of Cold Lake, and where Highway 36 crosses the Beaver River south of Lac La Biche.

Report Conclusions

In general, anecdotal evidence indicated that fishing opportunities may have declined in the Beaver River mainstem and tributaries due to annual fluctuations in water levels and flows, declines in water quality and riparian conditions, and the fragmentation of habitat from beaver dams and culverts during the past decades. This report summarizes historical information on the Beaver River and tributaries to assist with comparisons of fish catch data collected in the future.

For more information, please contact Stefanie van Huystee, Resource Technician.