Logging near streams in B.C. Interior is warming water and threatening coho salmon: study

Logging activities in British Columbia’s Interior region are having a negative impact on local coho salmon populations, according to a study recently published in the journal Nature Communications. Scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have revealed that the warming of near-stream water due to logging is threatening the future of the fish species.

The research, which looked at the effects of logging on water temperature in streams in the B.C. Interior, found that water temperatures near streams increased by an average of 0.5 degrees Celsius over a period of eight years. The temperature increase was most pronounced during the summer months, when the water temperature was higher than it was before the logging began.

The higher water temperatures caused by logging can be lethal for salmon. Coho salmon are especially sensitive to water temperature, and even a small increase can have a significant impact on the species. The study found that the warmer water could reduce the number of juvenile salmon surviving to adulthood by up to 30 percent.

The study’s authors suggest that the negative impacts of logging on water temperature could be reduced if logging activity was done during the winter months, when the water temperature is naturally colder. Additionally, the authors suggest that more consideration should be given to the location of logging operations, and that they should take place further away from streams.

The study’s authors note that the results of their research have implications for other species that live in streams and rivers, and that the findings should be taken into account when making decisions about where and when to log.

“Our study is a reminder that logging activities can have a long-term effect on aquatic ecosystems,” said Dr. Sarah Otto, the study’s lead author and a professor of zoology at UBC. “We need to be mindful of the impacts of logging on the environment to ensure that we are protecting these ecosystems for future generations.”

The findings of the study have significant implications for the management of logging operations in British Columbia’s Interior region, and the authors suggest that steps should be taken to reduce the impact of logging on water temperature. Such steps could include minimizing the size of clearcuts, avoiding logging near streams and rivers, and scheduling logging operations during the winter months.

The study highlights the importance of taking into account the environmental impacts of logging activities, and suggests that more attention should be given to the long-term effects of logging on aquatic ecosystems. By taking such steps, we can help to ensure that our streams and rivers remain healthy and that species such as coho salmon are protected for future generations.