summer/Fall Newsletter - 55 |
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The West Van Streamkeeper Society, West Vancouver Library, and the Coho Society of the North Shore, in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, invited families to participate in this annual event held on the banks of McDonald Creek. Located in Memorial Park, McDonald Creek is home to cutthroat trout, Coho, sculpin, and a diverse population of mammals, bird, and amphibians. Over 100 kids signed their Adopt-A-Fish Certificates on the library's rooftop before crossing the street to pick-up their yellow bucket. Volunteers helped place one Coho salmon smolt into each bucket, before handing it off to a waiting family who gingerly released it into McDonald Creek. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with this successful event! |
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Hollyburn Elementary and Sentinel Secondary School |
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This year the storm painting initiative included Hollyburn Elementary and Sentinel Senior Secondary Schools. This was our first year inviting high school students to participate and everyone had a great time! |
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NELSON CREEK HATCHERY UPDATE |
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Grateful thanks go to our dedicated volunteers –egg-takers, fish feeders, fin clippers and fry releasers who gave their time between November and July to ensure the success of another season of chum and Coho rearing. Chum were released May 15th and the Coho on July 10th . The 5,000 healthy and chubby Coho fry were placed into Nelson Creek. They will spend a year in the creek before heading out to sea next spring. Volunteer opportunities will begin again with the late summer and fall egg-takes. Contact Jan jamoger@gmail.com if you are interested in joining us for this or any other hatchery operation next season. |
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Our small crew collected two samples from MacDonald Creek, one in upper Hay Park, the other in Memorial Park. Results from both locations indicated a similar variety and number of stream invertebrates. We recorded ratings between "marginal" and "acceptable" which are consistent with previous assessments. Over the course of 2 hours we counted 179 different invertebrates! Contact John Wilcockson at jbwilcockson@gmail.com if you would like to participate in future Citizen Science activities. |
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ONGOING & FUTURE PROJECTS |
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Cypress Creek Restoration |
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We are currently completing a feasibility study for the restoration of Cypress Creek. Cypress Creek is the largest watershed in West Vancouver and historically sustained significant returns of chum and pink salmon in the lower reaches and chinook, coho and steelhead returns to the higher reaches which feature viable spawning and rearing habitat. Our current study examines the provision of “macro riffles” to reduce channel slope, trap gravels and restore spawning habitat in the lower reach, in combination with a fish ladder to facilitate passage above the weir and provide access to existing habitat in the upper reaches. Subject to the findings of the study and the raising of necessary funding, we anticipate work would commence during the 2024 August fisheries window. |
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For more information on this project contact Keith Moger at kmoger@telus.net. |
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Whether you are new or returning, thank you for choosing to support our organization. Your membership strengthens our voice in this community and enables us to do the work we do! We now offer renew options of 1, 2, or 5 years! Click on the button below to be taken directly to the online form. A printer friendly form is also available for mail-in. Membership questions? Contact Annie Faw - anniewvss@gmail.com |
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UPCOMING EVENTS Event: Coho Festival at Ambleside Postponed until 2024 Lecture: The Future of Átl’ka7tsem/ Howe Sound – An Aspirational Journey West Vancouver Memorial Library Wednesday, October 4 at 6 p.m. Free with registration. Planting: Rivers Day (North Shore Streamkeepers) - North Vancouver, Lower Heywood Park Sunday, September 24, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Free with registration. |
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| | Salmon in the News Our own WVSK Member Steve MacDonald was featured on City News back in July. | | |
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| | Are you a WVSS Member and interested in volunteering for a 2023 project? Click the button below to learn more. | | |
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Newsletter questions/comments? Contact Taren Urquhart at tarenu@shaw.ca. |
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