Nicola Basin Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping & Aquatic Health Index

2020-2021

In 2020 Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd.was contracted by the Fraser Basin Council to complete a comprehensive inventory of the Coldwater River between the headwaters located within the Coquihalla Pass and the confluence with the Nicola River and to subsequently develop an Aquatic Habitat Index (AHI).

The following technical report outlines the project approach and presents and analyzes the results of both the Inventory and AHI phases of the project. In addition, spatial mapping of the Nicola River was updated from 2016 Inventory data (Ecoscape 2017) to reflect physical changes in the river channel that were influenced by the spring 2017 floods. This additional scope assessed 27.8 km of the Nicola River for reaches 10-16 between the Coldwater River and Nooaitch Creek confluences.

2021 Report

Read the 2021 report:

Coldwater River Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping and Aquatic Habitat Inventory

Access to Data

You can access the background materials and data from FBC's Sharepoint page:

Coldwater River SHIM and AHI Data

2016-2017 Work

A comprehensive inventory was completed for the Nicola River in November 2016 from Nicola Lake downstream to the Thompson River confluence for completion of an Aquatic Habitat Index (AHI). The AHI is based on various criteria, such as biophysical, fisheries values and anthropocentric characteristics to estimate the relative habitat value of river reaches and bank segments defined during the inventory.

The project report is available:

• Nicola River Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping & Aquatic Health Index (Report - April 2017)

Two maps are also available. These are large PDF files and need to be downloaded to view.

• AHI Rating and Fisheries Information: Large File: Download
• Habitat and Hydraulic Features Classification: Large File: Download