Deadman River Project

Information

Project Name: Deadman River Project Partner Group: The Skeetchestn First Nation  Contact Info: Don Ignace, CEDP Project Manager Telephone: 250-373-2493 Fax: 250-373-2494 E-mail: di@skeetchestn.ca

Project Description

The Deadman project is located on the Deadman River, a tributary of the Thompson River, 5 miles west of Savona, BC. The facility is on Skeetchestn First Nation land and is operated by the Skeetchestn Band. The project was initiated in 1985 as a counting fence with a pilot hatchery to assess the natural life history of central interior Chinook and Coho stocks and to assist in development of assessment strategies.

The hatchery building is used as a storage facility and for construction needs for the Skeetchestn Fisheries Program. Currently, the project involves an adult coho counting fence for broodstock collection. Coho are no longer marked but can be represented by Spius Creek stock as production has been carried out at the Spius Creek hatchery since 1999.

Local school groups still release fish from the site and view Coho smolts on-site from March-May.

Current project objectives:

• Enhancing and assessment of habitat on the Deadman River;
• Watershed planning for the Deadman watershed;
• Assessment and enumeration of coho adults through fish fence and Electronic counter on Deadman River; and
• Broodstock collection for Deadman River coho stocks, local school programs and Spius River hatchery.

Photos of the Deadman River Project

Click on images to enlarge.
Coho enumeration/ broodstock collection fence on Deadman River	School visits hatchery for classroom incubator release of Coho	Planted riparian area with fencing for cattle exclusion

Skill Testing Questions/Answers

1. Who benefits from the hatchery program?
   The hatchery program from it's beginning in the late  1980's was the backbone of the now Natural Resource  Dept. of the Skeetchestn Indian Band. The hatchery program not only was used as an educational facility for our community but also forged a relationship with watershed ranchers, industry and government in ecosystem management throughout the Deadman watershed dealing with fisheries, forestry, mining and agriculture.
2. What fish are raised at the Deadman hatchery?
   The hatchery facility currently takes part in broodstock collection, incubation and rearing of 40000 Coho smolts released in May of each year.
3. What species of salmon is the program involved in managing on the Deadman River?
   The species of salmon that come into the Deadman River and are enumerated are Steelhead, Chinook, Coho and Pink.