Toboggan Creek Groundwater Channel Monitoring Project

Toboggan Creek is a tributary of the Bulkley River whose headwaters originate at the Hudson Bay glacier. Toboggan Creek has high fish value and is the indicator stream for Upper Skeena River coho stocks. Due to its importance as an indicator stream, Toboggan Creek has been studied for coho hatchery smolt versus wild smolt production and survival levels. The creek has been a focus area for a water quality monitoring study, adult steelhead and coho assessment programs, a riparian assessment and has been a candidate for a "fish friendly" cattle crossing project. The confluence of Toboggan Creek with the Bulkley River is a popular recreational fishery for coho and in past years has been the only location for a catch and keep coho fishery on the Bulkley River.

Two locations along the remnant stream channel were identified as potential monitoring locations. Site 1 appeared to be groundwater as it did not freeze. Site 2, which was about 30 metres downstream from Site 1 but still within the remnant stream channel was thought to have surface water influence.

These two sites were to be monitored for water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels and some pH and conductivity measurements were to be taken. The objective was to determine if the water source—specifically the Site 1 source, in the remnant stream channel was suitable for fish.