Trout are gravel nest spawners, with female trout and salmon excavating a nest, called a redd, where they deposit eggs. These are fertilized by one or more male trout or salmon, then covered by gravel. By counting and mapping the number and distribution of redds, we can answer questions about trout populations and spawning habitat in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Trout are indicator species for healthy streams, as they require cool, clean and connected watersheds to survive. As different trout species spawn at different times, we count the number of rainbow trout redds every May, and the number of brown trout redds every November. At the same time, we map beaver dams and recreational rock dams to examine their interaction with spawning.
Volunteers will be lead by a staff or lead volunteer directing the survey. After meeting at the Bow Valley Ranch, groups will travel to one of locations within Fish Creek Provincial Park to begin their inventory (Hull's Wood, Parkland, Glennfield and Shannon Terrace). Additional volunteers will support efforts upstream of the park, helping collect as much data as possible in the watershed.
