Seasonal distribution and movement of radiotagged walleye and lake sturgeon in the vicinity of the proposed Mattagami River hydroelectric extensions

A study was carried out to determine the presence or absence of lake sturgeon in the forebay of Little Long Generating Station prior to, during and following spring freshet, using radiotelemetry, and to assess whether any of the fish were swept into the Adam creek diversion channel during freshet. The study was also intended to determine if any radio-tagged walleye and/or sturgeon moved into the downstream end of Adam Creek from the Mattagami River during spring freshet and the onset of spawning. Forty radio-tagged adult sturgeon and fifteen walleye were tracked once per month prior to and following spring freshet using a fixed-wing aircraft. During freshet, the fish were tracked weekly. In addition, fixed antenna stations were set up to monitor any passage through hydroelectric facilities as well as their spillage downstream into the Adam Creek diversion channel via the control structures. It was found that during freshet 42% of the lake sturgeon were located in the Little Long forebay. None of the 19 sturgeon radio-tagged south of the forebay were recorded as having passed through the generating station and associated spillway or through the Adam Creek control structures