GLES was retained by the MTO to conduct post construction monitoring of a culvert on Highway 60 on Brewer’s Creek in Algonquin Park, Ontario. The project included the assessment of fish passage through the Brewer’s Creek culvert. To properly assess fish passage through the culvert, all fish within the study limits (upstream pool, within the culvert, and downstream pool) were captured. The area of investigation was isolated using a seine net at the north end of the downstream pool, and a hoop net at the south end of the upstream pool. Minnow traps and a backpack electrofisher were used to capture all fish.

The fish were placed in a flow-through container downstream of the culvert to ensure a constant source of oxygen and to limit stress. All fish were identified to species, measured, and live released into the downstream pool. A hoop net was installed at the upstream inlet of the culvert and left for a period of 56 hours. Water velocity measurements (m/s) were taken within the culvert. Velocity data will be used in conjunction with the fish species and length (mm) data and will be compared to a Swimming Performance Assessment Curve Graph. This graph correlates species, length, and swimming time endured including burst speed and sustained at various water velocities.

Species that were caught in the upstream hoop net at the inlet of the culvert include: Bluntnose minnow, Brassy minnow, Brook stickleback, Common shiner, Creek chub, Fathead minnow, Finescale dace, Golden shiner, Northern redbelly dace, Pearl dace, Pumkinseed , Splake, and White suckers. Therefore it can be assumed that water velocities flowing through the culvert at this time of year are able to pass fish.