Timing windows to conduct projects in or around water

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Alberta:

• Codes of Practice: Pipelines / telecommunications lines crossing a water body / water course crossings
  (Government of Alberta)

Time work to occur during the appropriate timing window in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in British Columbia:

• Marine/estuarine timing windows for the North Coast area and the South Coast and Lower Fraser areas.
• Freshwater timing windows for each provincial region (Government of British Columbia). For salmon species not covered by the freshwater timing windows, please contact the DFO regional office.

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Manitoba:

• Manitoba restricted activity timing windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat

Time work to occur during the timing window in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in New Brunswick:

• The summer low flow period from June 1 to September 30.

For more specific information on sensitive periods and a listing of the spawning and migration time periods, please refer to Watercourse and wetland alteration technical guidelines, Timing of instream Work (p. 25-27) and Appendix A (p. 114-117) (Government of New Brunswick).

To avoid impacts on fish in Newfoundland & Labrador, do not carry out in-water work:

• in estuaries and main stems of scheduled salmon rivers from May 1 to September 30 (migrating period)
• in tributaries and headwaters of scheduled salmon rivers on the island of Newfoundland from October 1 to May 31 (spawning, incubating and hatching period)
• in tributaries and headwaters of scheduled salmon rivers in Labrador from September 15 to June 15 (spawning, incubating and hatching period)
• in estuaries and the main stems of brown trout rivers from October 1 to November 30 (migrating period)

Scheduled salmon rivers are listed in the NL Angler’s Guide or in the Newfoundland & Labrador Fishery Regulations.

Brown trout rivers are listed in the NL Angler’s Guide.

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in the Northwest Territories:

• Northwest Territories restricted activity timing windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat

Time work in freshwater to occur during the summer low flow period to avoid sensitive life stages (egg and fry immobility) for the main salmonid species. There are some species with sensitive time periods during the work window – so take caution to avoid impacts if these species occur near your project area (e.g. juvenile rainbow trout).

• June 1 to September 30.

This timing window does not apply to estuarine/marine environments.

For further information, please contact the Dartmouth, Maritimes Region office.

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Nunavut:

• Nunavut Restricted Activity Timing Windows for the Protection of Fish and Fish Habitat

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Ontario:

• Ontario restricted activity timing windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat

Timing windows identified on Conservation Authority permits or Ministry of Natural Resources (Government of Ontario) work permits may differ and take precedence.

Time work to occur during the timing window in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Prince Edward Island:

• The low flow period from June 1 to September 30.
• Prince Edward Island watercourse, wetland and buffer zone activity guidelines (Government of Prince Edward Island)

Time work to occur during the timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Quebec:

• Freshwater timing windows for carrying out work in fish habitat (Government of Quebec)
• Marine and estuarine timing windows for carrying out work in fish habitat

Time work to avoid the restricted activity timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in Saskatchewan:

• Saskatchewan restricted activity timing windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat

Time work to occur during the timing windows in order to reduce the risk of harm to fish and fish habitat in the Yukon:

• Freshwater timing windows identified for Yukon
• Please contact the Yellowknife, N.W.T office for information on marine/estuarine timing windows identified for Yukon.