Evaluating flow management strategies for the conservation of Kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in the lower Duncan River system, British Columbia.

The Duncan Dam Project, British Columbia, falls under the direction of a water use plan. One provision under the current plan is to investigate the effects of facility operations on kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). With the limited data set available, I developed a closed-loop simulation procedure, which uses a relationship between minimum winter flows and egg-to-fry survival to simulate kokanee population dynamics. This population is then controlled by management decisions (minimum yearly winter flows). The model acts to provide a framework to answer questions regarding flow requirements and the conservation and non-conservation consequences of flow management within a water-controlled system. Future investigations into stock distinction, flow-survival relationships, yearly escapement estimates, and biological characteristics specific to the Lower Duncan River kokanee are required if this model is to be directly applied to the Duncan System.