January

Crean Lake Hydro-acoustics Project 2004 Prince Albert

Author
Will Stafford, GIS Analyst / Ron Hlasny, Hydro-acoustics Specialist

ESRI Software
ArcView 3.2, ArcMap 9.0, Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst

Data Sources
HTI Technology Hydro-acoustics Gear (Fish, X, Y, Z), Lowrance LCX-15MT Fishfinder (Lake Depth X, Y, Z), Ortho photography and DEM Saskatchewan Environment

Description
The Lake Trout assessment project in Crean Lake, Prince Albert National Park is a collaborative project with partners including Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan Environment Hydro-acoustics program, Saskatchewan Research Council, Prince Albert Model Forest and Crean Lake Trout Working Group.

Project Methodology:
A) The lake depth data collected and manipulated into a lake digital elevation model for Crean Lake.
B) The fisheries data capture and its conversion from sound echoes (decibels) into a 3 dimensional spatial representation in X,Y, Z coordinates by fish size class.
C) The data analysis of A & B to ascertain fish stock numbers, habitat preferences related to temperature, dissolved oxygen and food sources. This map displays the results of parts A & B.

The Dissolved Oxygen and Temperature average surfaces are based on the vertical averaging of Inverse Distance Weighting statistics for the -1, -5,-10, -15 and -20 metre depth values obtained from the water quality profiles.

Acknowledgements
Patrick A. Nealson, Hydro-acoustics Specialist, HTI Technologies, Seattle, Washington, United States; Michael Fitzsimmons, Aquatics Specialist, Prince Albert National Park, Prince Albert, Canada; Dave Wieder, Warden, Prince Albert National Park, Prince Albert, Canada