The Instream Flow Needs Technical Task Group (IFNTTG) of the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA) Surface Water Working Group (SWWG) held a workshop on April 22 and 23, 2009, to develop and/or improve Habitat Suitability Criteria (HSC) for selected fish species and life stages in the lower Athabasca River.

The intent of this report is to summarize the workshop approach, present the final HSC curves developed during the workshop, and document the discussions that led to the developed curves. The technical basis for the development of HSC curves is provided in South Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta, Canada, Fish Habitat Suitability Criteria (HSC) Curves (Addley et al. 2003). CEMA invited a variety of participants, with experience in the region or with specific species biology. A list of participants is provided in Table 1. The workshop was held at Golder Associates Ltd. (Golder) Calgary office. Golder provided a workshop Chair, to facilitate the proceedings, as well as a recorder, to document the workshop discussions.