Terms of Reference

Considerations for Fish Habitat, Passage, and Gaspereau Stocking at Sandy Lake, Nova Scotia

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

October 15, 2015
Dartmouth, N.S.

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

The construction of the St. Margaret’s Bay Hydro-electric system in the 1920s included the conversion of a dam at Sandy Lake, Nova Scotia, from running and milling logs to power generation. The system’s current operator, Nova Scotia Power Incorporated, is constructing a fishway to allow for fish passage into Sandy Lake (around the dam), which has been inaccessible for much of the past century. Once a fishway is constructed, DFO Fisheries Protection Program is to provide guidance on a potential Gaspereau stocking program, in support of re-opening of this inland freshwater system. Consideration for future opportunity to allow access to Big Indian Lake within the system is also given. In support of this, DFO Science has been asked to provide advice on the following objectives, which are to be addressed in some instances through summary of the available scientific literature.  Given the focus on existing literature, a Science Response Process will be used.

Objectives

The objectives of this Science Response Process are:

1. Estimate the area of potential fish habitat that will be made available to Gaspereau by providing fish passage at the Sandy Lake dam, with further consideration in the estimate of assuming fish passage at Big Indian Lake dam;  
2. Estimate of the abundance of Gaspereau this area could theoretically support;  
3. Evaluate potential population growth of Gaspereau from an initial small population size, including any estimated time frame(s) for expected growth;  
4. Identify factors that should be considered in stocking the system with Gaspereau (e.g. species sensitivity, sources of fish, etc.), including the identification of alternate sources of information; and
5. Identify other factors that should be considered with respect to fish passage and a potential Gaspereau stocking program (e.g. passage efficiency), including assumptions, limitations, and sources of uncertainty.

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Fisheries Protection Program