Shoreline Vegetation Maps of Some Major Herring Spawning Localities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island: Nuchatlitz, Nootka Sound, Hesquiat Harbour and Barkley Sound

Carl W. Haegele and Mary Jo Hamey

Research and Resource Services Pacific Biological Station Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5K7

September 1977

Fisheries & Marine Service Manuscript Report No. 1430

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Manuscript Report 1430

SHORELINE VEGETATION MAPS OF SOME MAJOR HERRING SPAWNING

LOCALITIES ON THE WEST COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND:

NUCHATLITZ, NOOTKA SOUND, HESQUIAT HARBOUR,

AND BARKLEY SOUND

by

Carl W, Haegele and Mary Jo Harney

Pacific Biological Station

Fisheries and Marine Service

Department of Fisheries and the Environment

Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5K6

- ii -

(c) Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1977

Cat. no. Fs 97-4/1430 ISSN 0701-7618

- iii -

ABSTRACT

Haegele, Carl w., and Mary Jo Harney. 1977. Shoreline vegetation maps of some: major herring spawning localities on the west coast of Vancouver Island: Nuchatlitz, Nootka Sound, Hesquiat Harbour, and Barkley Sound. Fish. Mar. Serv. MS Rep. 1430: 41 p.

Maps of shoreline vegetation for the purpose of recording and assessing herring spawnings were prepared for the Nuchatlitz area including Port Langford, the western portion of the entrance to Nootka Sound, all of Hesquiat Harbour, and the western coastline of Barkley Sound. The vegetation was mapped by five major types as identified from their spectral reflective characteristics on large format vertical aerial colour infrared and colour photographs: sea grasses, rockweed, red algae, brown algae, and green algae. Each of the 15 charts were reduced from photoscales between 1:6000 and 1:3600 to page size at scales between 1:22000-1:9000.

Key words: shoreline vegetation, aerial photography.

~ ,. RESUME

Haegele, Carl w., and Mary Jo Harney. 1977. Shoreline vegetation maps of some major herring spawning localities on the west coast of Vancouver Island: Nuchatlitz, Nootka Sound, Hesquiat Harbour, and Barkley Sound. Fish. Mar. Serv. MS Rep. 1430: 41 p.

Pour reconnaitre les frayeres de harengs, les auteurs ont dresse des cartes de la vegetation littorale de la zone de Nuchatlitz, qui comprend le port de Langford, la partie ouest de !'entree de la baie de Nootka, le havre de Hesquiat en son entier et le littoral ouest de la baie de Barkley. La vegetation a ete classee en cinq grandes cat~gories caracterisees par leurs spectres d'emission captes sur des photographies aeriennes de grand format sensibles a la couleur ou a l'infrarouge, Ce sont: les zosteres, les fucus, les algues rouges les algues brunes et les algues vertes. Chacune des quinze

, ' ..... , 6 " ,.. , cartes tiree de photographies a l'echelle du 1:6000 au 1:3 00, a ete rapportee , " a la dimension d'une page par une reduction du 1:22 000 au 1:9000.

Mots-cles: vegetation littorale, photographie aerienne.

INTRODUCTION

Pacific herring spawn mostly on rooted algae and sea grasses in the intertidal and upper subtidal zones. The ability to accurately record and assess these spawnings depends to a considerable degree on a knowledge of the spawn substrate. Vegetation maps of herring spawning grounds have been prepared for this purpose from large format aerial photographs. This is a continuing project and charts for some Strait of Georgia localities have been published (Haegele and Ramey 1976). The charts presented here are for some west coast of Vancouver Island herring spawning localities and while they are primarily intended for herring spawn assessment, they may be of value to others whose studies include consideration of these nearshore habitats.

METHODS

Mapping of the shoreline vegetation was accomplished from 23 X 23-cm format transparencies. The coastlines were photographed with Kodak Aerochrome Infrared No. 2443 film with a medium yellow (Wratter No. 9) filter and Kodak Ektochrome MS Aerographic No. 2448 film.

Vertical aerial photographs for the west shore of Barkley Sound were obtained on July 21, 1974. The Nuchatlitz area, the west shore of Nootka Sound and Hesquiat Harbour were photographed on May 19, 1976. There was 60% forward overlap between adjacent frames and 20% overlap between parallel flight lines. Other photographic details were as follows:

Predicted Time of low tide photography

(PST) Time Height Photo No. of

Locality (PST) (m) Film type Begin End scale exposures

Nuchatlitz 1050 0.5 Infrared 0957 1013 1:6000 55 Ektachrome 0935 0950 1:6000 50

Nootka Sd. 1050 0.5 Infrared 1018 1022 1:4800 28 Ektachrome 0924 0930 1:4800 25

Hesquiat Hbr. 1050 0.5 Infrared 1032 1050 1:4800 78 Ektachrome 0850 0915 1:4800 70

Barkley Sd. 0745 o.o Infrared 0750 0835 1:3600 57 Ektachrome 0700 0740 1:3600 57

- 2 -

Vegetation maps were prepared at the scale of photography using standard photogrammetric techniques. Vegetation was identified from infrared photographs using a colour key previously developed (Haegele 1975). For vegetation submerged at the time of photography, identification was by colour and texture from the colour photographs. The vegetation was charted by five major typesa

1. Sea grasses - mainly Zostera marina but also Phyllospadix sp. in exposed areas.

2. Rockweed - mainly Fucus sp. but occasionally Pelvetiopsis sp.

3. Red algae - a large variety of species. In herring spawn samples and vegetation samples obtained in Barkley sound in 1975 (Humphreys and Haegele 1976), 1976 (Haegele and Humphreys 1976), and 1977 (unpublished), 37 species of red algae were encountered. The more common species, in order of frequency of occurrence in samples were:

Pikea sp. Rhodomela larix Calliarthron sp. corallina sp. Gelidium sp. Gracilariopsis sjoestedtii Polysiphonia hendryi Neoagardhiella baileyi

4. Brown algae - mostly kelps such as Laminaria sp., Agarum sp., Macrocystis integrifolia and the japweed Sargassum muticum.

5. Green algae - mostly Enteromorpha sp. and Ulva sp.

The outer vegetation boundaries were determined from the colour photographs. Fathom contours were included in the charts and were obtained by enlarging marine charts to photo scale on a reflecting projector. These large scale charts were photographically reduced to page size.

RESULTS

The Nuchatlitz region, including Port Langford, is a very complex, exposed coastline with large areas of very shallow water (Fig. 1). Including land masses, which account for about 40% of the area, 22 km2 involving 24 km of coastline were mapped on three charts. The scale of the page-size charts (Fig. 2, 3, 4) is 1:21000,

In Nootka Sound, the western portion of the entrance from seaward of Friendly Cove to Marvinas Bay, including McKay Passage and Saavedra Islands was mapped (Fig. 5). The vegetation along 16 km of coastline was charted on two charts. The scale of the page-size maps (Fig. 6, 7) is 1:22000.

- 3 -

Hesquiat Harbour was mapped in its entirety on five charts covering 26 km of coastline (Fig. 8). The scale of the page-size maps (Fig. 9-13) is 1:21000. From observations made in 1974 during herring spawn sample collec­tions, it was noted that the sea-grass beds at the eastern entrance are mostly Phyllospadix sp. rather than the more prevalent Zostera marina.

In Barkley Sound, the western coastline from Twin Rivers to Toquart Bay, a distance of 14 km, was mapped on five charts (Fig. 14). The scale of the page-size maps (Fig. 15-19) ranges from 1:9000-1:13000. A diving survey in 1975 (Haegele 1975) in the section seaward of Maggie River (Fig. 17) showed that the aerial map was mostly correct. The exception was a sparse red algae band with percent cover of less than 25% that extended to the 5 fm contour. From the photographs red algae were identified only to the 3 fm contour.

DISCUSSION

The vegetation charts for Barkley Sound were used for the first time for the 1976 herring spawn survey by Fisheries and Marine Service personnel. From our observations of spawnings in that area by diving surveys in 1975 and 1977, the general impression is that the accuracy of the spawn reports was markedly improved. While the average widths of spawnings reported for here from 1971-1975 was 40 yd, the 1976 average width was 110 yd, probably a more realistic figure.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We wish to thank the personnel of Pacific Survey Corporation for obtaining, under contract, the aerial photographs from which the vegetation charts were drawn.

REFERENCES

Haegele, c. w. 1975. Vegetation mapping of herring spawning grounds in British Columbia. Ocean 75 Record. IEEE Publication 75 CHO 995-1 OEC. New York, N.Y. p. 840-844.

Haegele, c. w., and M. J. Harney. 1976. Shoreline vegetation maps of Nanoose and Ganges herring management units. Fish. Res. Board Can. MS Rep. 1408: 43 p.

Haegele, c. w., and R. D. Humphreys. 1976. vegetation and herring spawn studies. 87 p.

Data record for 1976 shoreline Fish. Mar. Serv. Data Rec. 15:

Humphreys, R. D., and c. w. Haegele. 1976. An evaluation of herring spawn survey techniques used in British Columbia. Fish. Mar. Serv. Res. Dev. Tech. Rep. 613: 140 p.

- 5 -

-0

NOOTKA I. 0

NUCHATLITZ - Shoreline Vegetation Charts

I. INNER NUCHATLITZ 2. OUTER NUCHATLITZ 3. PORT LANGFORD

Fig. 1. Shoreline vegetation charts for Nuchatlitz.

I() I()

0 (0 (\J

~ -~

SEA GRASSES

Ill ROCKWEED

~ RED ALGAE

~ BROWN ALGAE 0 0 GREEN ALGAE 0

INNER

. ~ . ·· ' ' . -....10.~'. -

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201m

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NUCHATLITZ

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Fig. 2. Inner Nuchatlitz.

NOOTKA

ISLAND

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~ Ill ROCKWEED

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METERS

Fi g. 3 . Outer Nuchatlitz.

NOOTKA

IS L AND

Fig. 4.

ISLET

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PORT LANGFORD

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0 100 500 1000 --= :m nn m m m

0 100 500 1000 M E TE RS

Port Langford.

1-' 1-'

- 13 -

:.,\, ~ ~ :\,

WEST NOOTKA - Shoreline Ve~-~tation Charts

I. MARVINAS BAY

2. McKAY PASSAGE

0 .;t 0

lD N

·:-:·

Fig. 5. Shoreline vegetation charts for West Nootka.

0

lD N

.o

- 15 -

WEST NOOTKA - MARVINAS BAY

NOOTKA ISLAND

.,

0 100 500 METE IllS

· .. ~ .... -. ···50f.-:n

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SE A GRAS SE S

Ill ROCK WEED

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00° GREEN ALGAE

NO

I 1000

DATE OF

SURVEY SPAWN LENGTH

Fig. 6. Marvinas Bay.

:· .,

WIDTH LAYERS

NOOTKA ISLAND

SANTA

COVE

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~Oim INDIAN RESERVE

.,

·,' ~ ,·

17

WEST NOOTKA - Me KAY PASSAGE

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GREEN ALGAE 0

DATE OF NO SURVEY SPAWN LENGTH WIDTH LAYERS

YAROS

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0 100 500 1000

METERS

Fig. 7. McKay Passage.

- 19 -

~----4---49°30'-----------------

-0 f() 0 w (\,1

PT.

HESQUIAT HARBOUR

0 (\,1 0 w (\,1

Shoreline Vegetation Charts··:~.~;:~~ .. • • •• t ~

I. EAST SHORE - Entrance ·.:-.:;::.

2. EAST SHORE -Head 3. WEST SHORE - Head 4. WEST SHORE - Middle 5.WEST SHORE- Entrance

~----4----49°20'----------------------------------~----~

Fig. 8. Shoreline vegetation charts for Hesquiat Harbour.

- 21 -

TO RONDEAULT POINT

31m lim O fm

I)

HESQUIAT HARBOUR- EAST SHORE --

ENTRANCE

DATE OF NO

SUR VEY SPAWN LENGTH WIDT H L AYERS

SEA GRAS SE S

Ill ROCK WE ED

~ RED ALGAE

~ BROWN A LG AE 00 GREEN A LG AE 0

Fig. 9. Hesquiat Harbour - east shore - entrance.

DATE OF NO SURVEY SPAWN

SEA GRASSES

Ill ROCKWEED

~ RED ALGAE

~ BROWN ALGAE

·.· GREEN ALGAE

LENGTH WIDTH

- 23 -

RAE LAKE

LAYERS

H ESQUIAT HARBOUR - EAST SHORE

HEAD

.... 31m

Fig. 10. Hesquiat Harbour - east shore - head.

"m

RAE BASIN

- 25 -

''"' 3fm

·-

HESQUIAT HARBOUR- WEST SHORE- HEAD

SEA GRA SS E S ~ Ill ROC KWEED _p-

~ RE D ALGAE \ ~ BROWN AL GAE 0 0 GREEN ALGAE 0

DATE OF N O

SURVE Y SPAW N LENGTH WIDTH LAYER S

Fig. 11. Hesquiat Harbour - west shore - head.

HESOUIAT

PENINSULA

DATE OF NO

SURVEY SPAWN

Ill ~ ~ .. .

- 27 -

.... LECLAIRE POINT

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I

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a I 1000

ME TER S

ANTONS SPIT

LENGTH WIDTH LAYE RS

Fig. 12. Hesquiat Harbour - west shore - middle.

HESQUIAT PENINSULA

PURDON CREEK

Fig. 13.

- 29 -

HESQUIAT HARBOUR- WEST SHORE

ENTRANCE

I

l

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METERS

DATE OF NO

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@ I 1000

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SEA GRA SS E S

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~ RED ALGAE

~ BROWN ALGAE 0 0

GREEN ALGAE 0

LENGTH WID TH LAYERS

Hesquiat Harbour - west shore - entrance.

BARKLEY SOUND Shoreline Vegetation Charts

I. TOQUART BAY 2. MACOAH PASS - Part I 3. MACOAH PASS- Part 2 4. MACOAH PASS - Port 3 5. MACOAH PASS - Part4

-10

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"'

- 31 -

0

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0 . . . .

Fig. 14. Shoreline vegetation charts for Barkley Sound.

BARKLEY SOUND - TOQUART BAY

NO DATE ~ . ~URVEY SPAWN

1-ENGTH

I !

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Fig. 15. Toquart Bay.

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TOQUART RIVER

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DATE OF NO . SURVEY SPAWN-

SEA GRASSES -Il l ROCKWEED

~ RED ALGAE /j BROWN ALGAE 0 0 GREEN ALGAE 0

1---- -·

YARDS 0 100 500 1000 - -~~-

0 10 0 500 1000 METERS

Fi g . 16. Macoah Passage - part 1.

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LENGTH

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0

YARDS 0 100 500 1000 r---".....___.. _[ ~ g;;;;;;_2 - ~--=::::::J 0 100 500 1000

METERS

Fig. 17. Macoah Passage- part 2.

--- --- -----

w '-1

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/

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PASS - Part 3

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YAROS 500 ~

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... ___ ,._...:::."

Fig. 18. Macoah Passage - part 3.

~ ..... -

-

1

- SEA GRASSES

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/ BROWN ALGAE 0 GREEN ALGAE

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DATE OF

BARKLEY SOUND - MACOAH PASS - Part 4 NO. bURVEY !sPAWN ~ ITH I INT.

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~ROO 0 100 500 1000

0 ~0 500 ~00 METERS

Fig. 19. Macoah Passage - part 4.

+"­!-"