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LUXOR CREEK
Luxor Creek is the largest of the priority watersheds included in the first phase of the CHARS project. It is located 8 km north of Edgewater along the east side of the Columbia Valley and has a drainage area of 94 km2. Luxor Creek has highly ranked restoration potential due to the presence of local partners including Nature Conservancy Canada and Nature Trust BC, who own neighbouring lands. It also has high species diversity that includes large-bodied migratory Bull Trout and large Kokanee runs. The lower reaches of Luxor have been identified as important habitat for Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, and Kokanee. The distribution of fish is limited by waterfalls in the mainstem.
Restoration
Riparian fencing was completed on private land in 2021 to recover riparian vegetation. This was part of a Farmland Advantage in-kind contribution.
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Proposed project works include the removal of an old irrigation structure and replacing it with a new ecologically sound water intake as well as site-level bank stabilization though riparian planting/cattle fencing, and potentially the installation of an off-channel watering system downstream of the irrigation structure to ensure cattle remain out of the creek. The goals of these works are to restore connectivity, riparian buffer, and stream morphology, increase bank stability, and increase fish habitat value.
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For more detailed information on the restoration of Luxor Creek go to the Restoration Report link on the Reports page.
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Right photo: old irrigation structure on Luxor creek with bank stabilization drawings.
Fish
Luxor Creek tied with Galena Creek as the creeks with the highest species diversity, and it supports juvenile rearing for many of these species within the lower reaches. Bull Trout captures were the second highest among streams (also tied with Fraling Creek). This stream supports large-bodied migratory Bull Trout spawning and rearing. Luxor Creek also had high catches of rearing Rocky Mountain Whitefish within the lower reaches, and Westslope Cutthroat Trout were present. While genetically pure Westslope Cutthroat Trout were confirmed and genetically pure Bull Trout is suspected, genetic introgression may be an issue within Luxor Creek's lower reaches as it had the second highest captures of Rainbow Trout and the highest captures of Eastern Brook Trout.
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For more detailed information on the fish of Luxor Creek go to the Restoration Report link on the Reports page.
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Photo left: Luxor Creek resident Westslope Cutthroat Trout juvenile.
EnvironmentAl Data
​Temperature
Luxor Creek water temperatures are representative of a groundwater fed stream with a spring freshet hydrograph dominated by snowmelt. Water temperatures within the creek provide optimum incubation, rearing, migration and spawning conditions for Bull Trout, Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Chinook Salmon, and Mountain Whitefish. Luxor Creek also provides optimum spawning and incubation temperatures for Burbot.
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Photo right: stock image
