A collaborative project dealing with the growing in-land Fraser

River salmon fishery

Chehalis Indian Band BC Federation of Driftfishers

1. Establishes a protocol between the Chehalis Band and sport fishing interests (represented by the BCFDF) for access downstream of the Chehalis hatchery

2. Creates a foot access trail and parking area for sport fishers to the lower Chehalis River to the local salmon and steelhead fishery

3. Builds a relationship and understandings considered useful by both Parties for dealing with future management of the inland salmon fishery

Lower Chehalis River Access Area

Chehalis-BCFDF Protocol

1. Work together to eliminate conflicts between anglers and residents and history of trespass and vandalism

2. Construct a trail that directs anglers away (west) from the Chehalis Healing center and graveyard, and off the dyke;

3. Create a secure parking space that draws road-side traffic off crowded roadway and private property;

4. Build a relationship from this small project as the basis for more complex access issues that may arise as Chehalis develops the local salmon fishery

Chehalis Band (Kim Charlie, Dave Moore, Alvin Charlie)

BCFDF (Rod Clapton, Grant Roadknight, Camron Aronetz)

BC Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts (Mike Peters)

BC Ministry of Environment (Jennifer Aikman)

DFO (Real Properties,Amelia Weatherbe; Fisheries Officer Glenn Kostiak, Hatchery Manager Reid Schrul)

Nature Trust (Jim Hope)

Salmon and Watersheds program $30k planning and organization

BC Ministry of Tourism Culture and Arts $40k (possibly x 2 years) for parking lot

Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC $7,500 project costs

Nature Trust $2k in materials and same in kind for kiosk

Chehalis Band $5k in kind and access approval for fishery, foot access to last 200 m of trail and fluvial fan

DFO project reviews and access license

Confirming proposed trail route

Provincial Recreation Site (Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts) 10%

Fenn Lodge adjacent Crown (riparian/old gravel channel

crossing) Nature Trust 85%(Island) Chehalis Band 16%(last 200 m)

Band Title unresolved Fenn Lodge sold to Band (during project) DFO lease over entire Nature Trust Lands Lease transfer to Ministry of Environment

(pending)

Conditions of access approval in principle (Band, BCFDF, Nature Trust)

Third Party Liability Insurance ($5 mill x 100) includes Band, DFO and Nature Trust

Provincial approval for trails and facilities application (Section 57 of Forest and Range Practices Act)

DFO/Province Approval for Works in and about a Stream application (Fisheries Act and Water Act)

Comprehensive access and use agreement (DFO, Nature Trust, BC Environment, Chehalis Band)

BC MoTCA agreement for snow removal to/in parking area

AIA in principle

1. Wilderness-style walking trail (no motorized vehicles, not designed for bike access)*

2. Begins at parking lot and forks north (across rec. site road) to access bridge run and east through old growth to river

3. Single trail alignment across old channel and island with trail branches to access river

4. Minimal soil disturbance, tree cutting, imported bed materials, or structures

5. Written agreement over use, maintenance and liability

6. Signage outlining conditions of use, liability, respecting wildlife and habitats, pack out garbage, etc, and identifying partners

* Some limited quad access may be permitted for Hatchery brood stock collection

Type II “Wilderness Trail”• plan as walking trails, 10 minutes to 2 hour duration,• 1-6 km long,• these trails often lead to higher elevation points of interest,• design at 1.25m wide, may be surfaced, suitable for

walking two abreast,• set maximum 10% grades, preferred average grade no

more than 5-8%,• use in day use areas, viewpoints, campgrounds,

interpretive areas, or asaccess to backcountry trails,• consider as ski touring trails in winter if criteria are met. Intensive Recreation Zone Natural Environment Zone Special Feature Zone (in some circumstances)

• 8 panels (4 x double sided) with roof

•Located outside parking area at fork with recreation site access road

• shared interpretive space with DFO, Nature trust, Salmon and Watersheds, DFO, Chehalis Band

• Focus on rules for trail plus conservation and fish/wildlife values, traditional values/history

Insurance and agreement in principle with all Parties in place April 17

Trail construction begins April 27 (10 days) Kiosk organization (ongoing) Parking lot survey and Archeological

Inventory Assessment early May (Chehalis) Logging/salvage and site grooming (May) Parking lot construction and Kiosk

placement (May/June) Grand Opening TBA (June?)

The Harrison River provides a selective harvest location in the Fraser with growing salmon fisheries – sharing increased access?

Chehalis and Scowlitz are currently negotiating salmon allocation and license transfers into the Harrison River (to 2012) – protecting transfers?

Monitoring and clear access sharing arrangements are in everyone’s best interest to achieve sustainable fisheries – area and sector priorities?

Allocation of mortalities between FSC and catch & release when conservation limits are in place (i.e.. Fraser River Spring Chinook) – priorities?