This week, our CSL group has taken several steps forward in defining the project criteria, including both negotiable and non-negotiable constraints, as well as the initial work schedule.
We began the week with a group meeting to discuss questions we had for our client as well as for Dr. Nesbit, the CSL coordinator. Our initial concerns were how to acquire the necessary materials for the fish counter, whether the construction of the counter would be on campus, and how budget money was going to be allocated.
After this meeting, we had an opportunity to talk to Dr. Nesbit and were informed that any purchases required would be subsidized so long as we kept our receipts. The budget was tentatively set at two hundred dollars.
Later on in the day, we had had the chance to meet with Zo Ann Morten, our client from the Pacific Streamkeeper’s Federation (PSKF). It was at this meeting we discussed project deliverables and received a more in-depth background on PSKF. The organization is comprised of passionate volunteers who work with streams because they like them. With years of working with the CSL program, they are a valued client.
We had the opportunity to meet some of these volunteers on Thursday morning and see firsthand where our project would be implemented. Mike Gosnell, Doug Hayman, and Jan Lander are all with Morten Creek salmon enhancement and North Shore Streamkeepers and we will be working with them closely while Zo Ann Morten is away.
Although the projected outcome is a working fish counter at a culvert in Morten creek, we discussed making a smaller scale counter to be used in the capilano trough located in the PSKF hatchery on Morten creek.
In a more controlled environment, the possibility to develop the counting system seems more favorable. This is an excellent step forward to creating a sustainable fish counter to be used by streamkeepers throughout BC.
Key criteria and constraints:
- The schematic is almost two decades old and conceptual. Moving forward requires technical expertise in electronics, which can be provided by Scott Jackson, a civil shop engineering technician.
- The culvert is made of concrete; it is possible to divert stream using the fish ladder in place.
- Waterproof camera desired for later stage, to count adults coming back. This, with the electrical system, requires testing how waterproof the housing system is.
- Power must be available to the system, which can be provided by generator if a prototype is first designed in the hatchery.
- Water flow in the trough, which is 30 liters per 20 seconds, must be maintained. Regardless, this method of counting is much less intrusive than hand-counting the fry.
Moving into next week, we plan to have several design concepts sketched up. We will decide on the best one and hopefully have a chance to meet with Scott Jackson to work out a schedule for using the shop, as well as getting assistance from him on designing the electrical components. Our group will meet again soon to draft a proposed work schedule for the entire project.
