and became a National Wildlife Area (NWA) in 1987.
Manager Kerry Hecker and staff are responsible for managing the ecosystem for everything that resides on the property.
Because the area has focused on birds and wildlife, fish have taken a backseat, but last year a study was conducted to determine the number found within the eco-system.
The work revealed a significant number of fish so now the goal is to determine how to adapt the area so they too can thrive. “We are trying to make room for everything, the fish too, but the question is how?”
A new joint study by Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and Ducks Unlimited Canada is being conducted to determine how the dam on Lanigan Creek in the LMLNWA affects fish migration and habitat utilization.
Lanigan dam currently prevents the fish from moving upstream to spawn so this study was initiated to determine what changes, if any, can be made to successfully accommodate the fish without taking away from the rest of the animals that have settled in the area. “There are critters here that would not normally be found here due to the drought-proofing that has been done. We have to make sure we don’t affect their habitat,” said Hecker.
The study follows the movement of fish in the system to determine the length of time they remain in the creek and when they return to the lake. In fact, a fish caught Wednesday, May 7, tagged just the week before and released above the dam, had already made its way through the system. To track the fish, the study is utilizing two different tags. One is a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag and the other a radio-transmitter tag. Both are surgically- implanted small devices not toxic or lethal to the fish. Before the tagging of fish took place, antennas were installed Apr. 14 at the dam site and a bridge on the Simpson road. Done just in time, three days later the first fish were caught and tags inserted. “Basically, the tags are bar codes which the sensor reads when the fish swim under the antenna,” explained Hecker.
The goal is to tag 300 fish in the targeted species of northern pike (jack), walleye (pickerel) and bigmouth buffalo fish. In fact, 10 lb walleye and 14 lb pike have been pulled out of the scouring pool below the dam and tagged. They were then released upstream to continue their spawning journey. The third fish type, the bigmouth buffalo fish is an at-risk species. “It is a natural bottom feeder and is similar to the carp, only it is natural whereas the carp was introduced.” The bigmouth buffalo fish prefer the water to be at least 15ºC before it spawns, so it will be closer to mid-May before any of those will be caught and tagged. Hecker’s records indicate the first bigmouth buffalo fish was seen May 14 and she expects the timing will be similar this year.
As of May 8, radio transmitters had been inserted in 12 pike and six walleye with 225 pike and 25 walleye carrying the PIT tags. The fish with the radio transmitters have an external antenna that can be tracked at any time or place using a hand-held antenna. To ensure the health of the fish, those with the radio transmitters have been given antibiotics to ensure infection does not develop.
“There is a very minimal risk for people with allergies to have a reaction to the antibiotics should they eat a fish that was implanted with a radio-transmitter.” The project participants are hoping fishermen will release a tagged fish but if not, it is advised these fish not be eaten unless they have been netted after June 30. By that time the antibiotics will have left the body of all the fish that were implanted and will be safe to consume. Should a tagged fish be killed, the project crew would appreciate having the tags returned to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (780-8725), Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park (725-5200) or Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area (836-2022). Fishermen may also find the PIT tags when cleaning a caught fish and the above agencies would appreciate having those returned as well. “Someone might find a PIT tag and wonder what it is. It really is a tag and is an important part of the study.”
The fish data will be collected throughout the spring and summer. The information will be downloaded from the data collection boxes intermittently to ensure it is not lost due to equipment failure or vandalism.
Analysis of the data will take place over the winter followed by a report that will provide direction for the next step in the process. Anyone having questions or wanting more information about the study is invited to contact the LMLNWA at 836-2022. “Or they can come out and visit us. We are always happy to see people and share information or answer questions,” said Hecker.
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