Highlights from ESRD session(s)
- Historical records in FWMIS show historical records of Grayling in the study area, but declined and collapsed populations in the mainstem Pembina in 2002-2003
- ESRD did a huge project in the Upper Pembina in 2014
- 29 sites were sampled with backback electrofishing, mostly in upper reaches
- 331 fish were captured, including 236 Brook Trout and, 2 Bull Trout, 5 Mountain Whitefish, and 0 Arctic Grayling
- 32 sites were sampled by angling, systematic approach, 10 km apart, on Pembina River, Dismal Creek, Lovett River, Rat Creek and Paddy Creek
- 340 hours angled, over 100km of streams angled; 186 Brook Trout, 85 Grayling, 20 Mountain Whitefish, 12 Rainbows, 3 Walleye, 2 Bull Trout, 3 Northern Pike
- Most of the Grayling were caught on Dismal Creek
- Many sites that historically had Grayling populations had none this year. (appears collapsed on mainstem Pembina)
- Bull Trout also collapsed through watershed, Brook Trout populations appear to be increasing
- We don't know much about seasonal movement of Grayling.
- We don't know how Brook Trout populations influence Grayling (if they do)
- Many of the lower reaches have temperatures that cause stress to Grayling
- These graphs show the fish sustainability index for Grayling. Notice the huge increase in Low and Extirpated ranges
- In the mainstem Pembina, Grayling catch rates have dropped from 1-3 fish/hour to 0.03/hour in 2014
- Little Smoky is a reference for a healthy Grayling fishery.
- Other studies show Grayling are affected by climate change
- Other factors include Forestry, Roads, Oil and Gas, Coal Mining
- Dismal Creek has some size classes missing compared to Little Smokey, but overall decent profile.
