Name/Org : Glen McMaster/Saskatchewan watershed Authority
Status:Completed
DESCRIPTION The project identifies and characterizes preferred habitat and critical areas of use by lake sturgeon in the Saskatchewan River Watershed by tracking tagged sturgeon throughout the season The information gained in habitat assessment and the tracking study will go to create a River 2D model which will depict the sturgeon’s habitat and food resources. The information will be essential for water managers and regulatory agencies to use in order to predict impact of current management strategies, trends in flow by climate change or droughts.
Results:The data collected described the movement patterns of Lake Sturgeon throughout the area, including finding that they moved little over the winter months (92% only moved 7km).. Tracking work located winter and summer holding areas as well as spawning and foraging sites.Modelling determined the impact of flow on these areas and the impacts of varying flow on habitat availability. The researchers also set the stage to estimate the population that will be determined in the coming years and are assessing the health of the sturgeon populations.
