Alberta fish and wildlife officials are bringing in time-of-day restrictions for the Bow River between Banff and Bassano to help ease pressure on heat-stressed fish.
The new restrictions from Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) will apply on the Bow River in Cochrane.
Coming into effect Saturday Aug. 20 and projected to last until Aug. 31, angling is not permitted from 2 p.m. to midnight on all rivers and streams (flowing waters) in fisheries management zone ES1, including the Bow River downstream of Banff National Park to Bassano Dam (this includes the Ghost Reservoir, Bearspaw Reservoir, and Bassano Reservoir).
High temperatures and low water levels have combined to bring about the closure. The decision was made when the temperature of the Bow River was recorded at 20 C for five consecutive days. The threshold is when water temperatures exceed 20 C for three or more consecutive days, and when the flows in the Bow are below the 25th water flow percentile for four or more days.
The current persistent hot spell has reduced river flows with little water from the mountains replenishing it. The Bow River was completely closed to angling for two weeks in 2015 due to similar conditions.
According to AEP, during the 2022-23 Sportfishing Regulation Engagement, feedback was collected on restrictions to angling during low flows and water high temperature events. After considering feedback provided from Albertans, AEP developed a flexible approach to protect fish during periods of lows flows and high temperatures by creating a time of day angling restriction.
Provincial officials advise that it is up to every angler to know the sportfishing regulations of the waterbodies they plan to fish. If a time of day restriction is implemented, updates will be provided on the My Wild Alberta Fishing Advisories, Corrections and Closures webpage (mywildalberta.ca), and through AEP social media channels.
