Return of the Ouananiche to Trout Lake, Near North Bay, Ontario

AUTHOR(S): Jerry Fitchko, Robert J. Eakins, Al R. Glasgow

CITATION:

Fitchko*, J., R.J. Eakins and A.R. Glasgow. 1996. Return of the Ouananiche to Trout Lake, near North Bay, Ontario. Unpublished manuscript. 32 pp.

Presented at The 39th Conference of the International Association for Great Lakes Research, May 26-30, 1996, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario.

ABSTRACT:

Due to stockings beginning in 1935, an Ouananiche (Salmo salar) population in Trout Lake became the only known self-perpetuating Atlantic Salmon population in Ontario. The only documented spawning area in the lower reaches of Four Mile Creek was designated as a fish sanctuary in 1958.

A train derailment spill of zinc concentrate in 1967 resulted in the extirpation of the Ouananiche population by 1976. After spill site remediation in the early 1980s, zinc concentrations in the creek had declined substantially. A restocking program for Atlantic Salmon was initiated in 1989.

Increased zinc concentrations above background in sediment cores collected in 1994 from Trout Lake reflected loadings from the spill site. A subsequent decline of zinc levels in recent sediments reflected spill site remediation. Zinc levels in the creek in 1994 and 1995 were generally below the PWQO of 0.03 mg/L.

Spawners were observed in Four Mile Creek in the fall of 1992 and 1994. Sampling of young-of-the-year in 1993, 1994 and 1995 confirmed that spawning in the previous year was successful. Overwinter fry survival was established by the presence of naturally produced parr in 1994 and 1995. One naturally produced grilse was captured in 1995. These findings indicate that Ouananiche may once again be established as a self-sustaining population in Trout Lake.

FULL TEXT – Fitchko et al.