Hyde Creek Watershed Society

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2012 - Fund Raising for new Well

The Hyde Creek Education Centre & Hatchery is now facing an issue of insufficiently reliable water to operate our salmon hatchery. A new well has been identified as our only remaining option to augment the low water flow of our existing well, in addition to supplementing base flows in lower Hyde Creek during summer dry spells and times of creek pollution.

We have already decreased the number of coho salmon fry in our rearing pond due to low well volumes. If our well depletes further Fisheries and Oceans Canada inform us that our
salmon hatchery will become inoperable.
With this well crisis we are approaching our neighbours for assistance with funding. We hope you can assist us with a donation.   Please email us at: hcws.info@gmail.com for more information, or call HCWS President Cliff Kelsey at 604-803-0483.

Well Sponsors

Thank-you to the following sponsors who have generously donated to the well fund:
Fisheries & Oceans Canada

Pacific Salmon Foundation

Danilo Brolese

Gawley & Son

Suncor

Thistle Plumbing

Standard Electric

Westminster Savings

Coquitlam Concrete

Morningstar

Ryan Lucy

HCWS-Open House Donations

Well project starts mid-November.

With help from our sponsors we have reached 61% of our goal.

21st April 2012 - Open House & Fish Release

Hundreds of Coho Salmon Smolts were released into Hyde Creek by the many visitors who came to our event. Lots of activities and exhibits kept everyone busy. The great weather and the BBQ helped make the day a big success. Thanks to Coronation Insurance Agencies for sponsoring our BBQ.

Fish Release, BBQ, Murals, Watershed Model, Crafts and Bug identification upstairs, and lots of tours.

Quiet time to release your salmon smolt into Hyde Creek.

12th May 2012 - Chum Fry All Released & Coho Smolts Leaving Home

The last of the Chum Fry have been released by our school classes. The dam gate on the pond was lifted Saturday and the Coho Smolts (Fall of 2010 eggs) are moving slowly out into Hyde Creek to begin their journey to the ocean.

April 2012 - Eggs Ponded into Cap Troughs

Our Egg Room is now officially closed for the season. The "hatched" eggs are fry and have been moved (or ponded) into the Capilano Troughs where they'll be raised until their next move to the Rearing Pond. Here's the count:

Chum - 5,200

Coho - 16,900

18th January 2012 - Final egg take tally

Fish and egg takes were completed by the end of December 2011. At that point, the following egg numbers were under management:

Chum - 6580

Coho - 26225

These numbers will decrease slightly over time - as 'weaker' eggs die, they will be extracted from the egg trays so as not to contaminate the healthy ones.

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29th October 2011 - 1st Broodstock take.

Now that the creek is full of fish, DFO asked HCWS to start taking some broodstock - males and females - for both Chum & Coho for egg extraction, fertilising and care by the dedicated volunteers at Hyde Creek. This was the first of several broodstock takes that will happen over the next month or so.

Always a fun and exciting time - especially for those who are decked out in waders and chasing darting fish in the cold waters of Hyde Creek!

Thanks to all who helped today - awesome job!!!!!

Here's some action shots from this morning:

I might be smiling, but there's something strange sneaking up behind me in the culvert!

Oh whew - it's only another Hyde Creek volunteer!

El Presidente Cliff Kelsey with a nice male Chum.

The crew hard at work.............those salmon have no chance against this motley crew!

It was great to see our newer, younger members getting down & dirty in the creek - AND having a blast doing it!!!

Thanks Ashley, Dana and Janice (young at heart!)

You want me to go where?.............in that dark culvert?

You say there's fish in here somewhere?

Photos - courtesy Monica Kelsey

25th September 2011 - BC Rivers Day.

As per previous years, HCWS volunteers provided displays at two BC Rivers Day events. These were at the following locations:

Maple Ridge 'Ridge Meadows Rivers Day' - ALLCO Hatchery, Maple Ridge

Port Coquitlam 'Rivers & Trails Festival' - Peace Park, Port Coquitlam

The weather call for the day was mostly rain - but that does not deter an intrepid HCWS volunteer!

Ridge Meadows Rivers Day

What a fantastic event. There was a wide range of activities happening; trout fishing, jumping castles, face-painting, music (several groups), virtual sports fishing, animals, displays, not to mention the hot dogs, burgers, chips and pop!

The virtual sports fishing was a blast for us that had a turn at it - a huge video screen with the fish type of your choice and a real rod that was hooked up to a machine that literally 'fought' you as you reeled in your catch - just like the real thing!

But that could not complete with the best event of the day - the kids fishing tournament. A special pond on the grounds was stocked with Rainbow Trout just for the day - and for a toonie donation, the kids could catch a fish. It was great to see their faces as they reeled in their catch! - this is what it ALL about!

The rain held off for the majority of the day - but as we were heading home after 3pm, the skies opened up - sometimes you can get lucky!

Below are some shots from the day - followed by a link to many more.

What happens when a HCWS volunteer drinks too much coffee!!!!

All ALLCO Photos: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=5618861f4b147ff8&page=play&resid=5618861F4B147FF8!1319

Rivers and Trails Festival

The event at Peace Park was also marred by inclement weather - earlier than the event at Maple Ridge. Quoting our determined volunteers, it was 'wet, windy and poorly attended'.

Not having the paddle-wheeler makes a difference. It could not be scheduled because there was no barge to moor it to while passengers are embarking/disembarking. All the available local barges are being used up in the new Port Mann bridge construction.

Below are some photos of the Peace Park action.

                                                             Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield (Peace Park) & B Wormald (ALLCO)

17th August 2011 - Second Coho Sampling session.

On Wednesday August 17, DFO Advisor Scott Ducharme oversaw another session to check the health of the fry in our on-site pond - and it seems they are all doing very well. Eight members and one guest were present.

Details:

Random samples were taken

Average weight was found to be 5.76 grams

Average was around 76 mm

Thanks to all that took part. Below are some photos of the session.

(Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield)

7th August 2011 - Hyde Creek Invertebrate Study

Sunday August 7 was another educational and fun day for some of our HCWS members. One of our intrepid Education Committee members, Giovanna, organised an invertebrate sampling and study session to see how Hyde Creek's health was holding up during our Summer season.

For those that may not be aware, not only is catching and studying bugs & creepy-crawlies fun (just ask your kids!), but can be a reliable indicator of stream health. Different bugs have different tolerances to in-stream conditions - such as oxygen levels, pollutants etc etc - so the types of bugs that are found can tell you how the stream is doing.

For example, Mayfly Nymphs and Caddisfly Larva are very intollerant to impurities in the water, so if it is noticed that they are decreasing in numbers in a stream, it is an indicator that something in not quite right. Just one of the many cues that mother nature gives us to help the earth stay in balance.

If you missed out on this workshop and are interested in attending one, please call the hatchery (604-461-3474) and express some interest.

Thanks to everyone who attended!

Here's some photos of the day's action.

Sampling (catching the critters!)

Comparing catches!

Separating the different critters into ice-cube trays for later study.

Setting up the lab scope to get a closer look. The scope lens is hooked up to the TV monitor for a better view for the 'class'. This works great for our student tours as well!

Workshop organiser Giovanna (left) is watching HCWS lab technician Terry (right) setting up the scope lens for viewing on the monitor.

Fine tuning the view.

Success - now the study begins!

(Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield)

20th July 2011 - Coho Sampling

Wednesday July 20 was an educational and fun day for nine HCWS members. The group started some 'Coho sampling' to see how our little charges were doing under our care.

As it's a little difficult (not to mention tiresome) to weigh each fry individually, the skittish fry were first corralled into a seine net, then gathered into buckets. Each bucket was weighed on scales, then the fish were counted to get an average weight for each - which by the way was 3.86 grams.

According to Scott Ducharme, one of our hard-working DFO Advisors on hand to oversee, the fry looked good and the weight was healthy. A testament to our fantastic volunteers.

The sampling session was the first of four weekly exercises to be carried out at the Hatchery. If you would like to help out or to get more details, call us at the hatchery on 604-461-3474.

Next session is scheduled for the end of the second week of August.

Here's some actions shots from the day..........thanks everyone!

The tools!

The volunteers! (Scott is on the right).

The roundup!

He went that way - get 'im!

Gotcha!

Weighing and counting. Now, was that 78 or 87?

Don't forget the paperwork!

12th July 2011 - Doe spotted in Hyde Creek

This magnificent looking doe was spotted cooling it's hooves in Hyde Creek, near the confluence with Smiling Creek, on Tuesday July 12th. The shot was snapped by our intrepid Secretary, Nigel Butterfield.

Seeing creatures like this is simply one of the many benefits of maintaining a healthy watershed - and makes our members' volunteer efforts even more worthy of merit.

Thanks volunteers!

(Photo - courtesy N. Butterfield)

31st May 2011 - Partial release of 2011 hatched Coho fry

Around 25,000 Coho fry were released into both Hyde and Cedar Creeks over the last few days. The balance of our fry stock (approx 7,500) were placed into our on-site rearing pond for our hard-working volunteers to care for until they too are released in 12 months time.

Here's some photos of the action..................

Netting the 'babies' from the troughs they have called home since hatching and putting them in the transportation tank - careful guys!

Settling them into their new home.........be free, be free!

All gone.............now the clean up!

Thanks guys!!!!!

(Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield)

19/20th May 2011 - Pond Cleanout

After the fun of successfully releasing our 2010 hatched fry (now smolts) into Hyde Creek on May 15th, it was back to work. But this time, the City came to our rescue and made it a little easier.....read on.

To prepare for moving our 2011 hatched fry from their large troughs into the rearing pond (where they will be lovingly cared for until this time in 2012), the onsite pond needed to be cleaned out. That involved draining it (easy task - just pump the water out!), then remove all the accumulated muck and silt from the bottom (not so easy - involves shoveling!).

The City came to the rescue and lent their vacuum truck, complete with crew. Of course our hard working volunteers were disappointed at not having to shovel the bottom of the pond (well - maybe not)!

Job well done..............thanks everyone.

See some 'action' photos below.

Getting ready to pump the water from the pond.

Netting those elusive stragglers!

Pressure washing the silt, mud & muck from the sides and centering it in one spot for 'pickup'.

The City's worksaver!!!

The City's 'vacuuming crew' hard at work - thanks guys!

The result - a clean home - just add water!!! Ready for our 2011 hatched fry to take up residence.

15th May 2011 - Fish Release and Hatchery Tours!

What a send off!!!

Between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Sunday May 15th, members of the public helped helped the Hyde Creek Watershed Society members move thousands of Coho salmon smolts and fry into Hyde Creek.

Not only that, they enjoyed hatchery tours, salmon and environmental exhibits, and the best BBQ hotdogs in PoCo!

Below are only some of the photos from the day. There are also some other excellent photos from member Cliff Kelsey at:

http://hydecreeksociety.blogspot.com/

We're confident that everyone had a great day and can't wait to share it all with you again next year.

PS: Don't forget our 12th Annual Salmon Festival later this year on Sunday, November 13th where we welcome the adult spawners back into Hyde Creek.

Preparing an adult salmon for a dissection demonstration.

Recently hatched fry in one of our troughs. These will soon transfer to the on-site pond vacated by the fish released today!

Shelter for our guests and hard-working volunteers.

Some lucky young guests about to get a bucket of fish to release into the creek!

This is what it's all about - our young guests discovering the joys of 'hands-on' education.

Gently does it!

(Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield)

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	Home \| Watershed \| History \| Education Center \| Rehabilitation\| Festival \| News\| Current Events
	2012 - Fund Raising for new Well The Hyde Creek Education Centre & Hatchery is now facing an issue of insufficiently reliable water to operate our salmon hatchery. A new well has been identified as our only remaining option to augment the low water flow of our existing well, in addition to supplementing base flows in lower Hyde Creek during summer dry spells and times of creek pollution. We have already decreased the number of coho salmon fry in our rearing pond due to low well volumes. If our well depletes further Fisheries and Oceans Canada inform us that our salmon hatchery will become inoperable. With this well crisis we are approaching our neighbours for assistance with funding. We hope you can assist us with a donation. Please email us at: hcws.info@gmail.com for more information, or call HCWS President Cliff Kelsey at 604-803-0483. Well Sponsors Thank-you to the following sponsors who have generously donated to the well fund: Fisheries & Oceans Canada Pacific Salmon Foundation Danilo Brolese Gawley & Son Suncor Thistle Plumbing Standard Electric Westminster Savings Coquitlam Concrete Morningstar Ryan Lucy HCWS-Open House Donations Well project starts mid-November. With help from our sponsors we have reached 61% of our goal. 21st April 2012 - Open House & Fish Release Hundreds of Coho Salmon Smolts were released into Hyde Creek by the many visitors who came to our event. Lots of activities and exhibits kept everyone busy. The great weather and the BBQ helped make the day a big success. Thanks to Coronation Insurance Agencies for sponsoring our BBQ. Fish Release, BBQ, Murals, Watershed Model, Crafts and Bug identification upstairs, and lots of tours. Quiet time to release your salmon smolt into Hyde Creek. 12th May 2012 - Chum Fry All Released & Coho Smolts Leaving Home The last of the Chum Fry have been released by our school classes. The dam gate on the pond was lifted Saturday and the Coho Smolts (Fall of 2010 eggs) are moving slowly out into Hyde Creek to begin their journey to the ocean. April 2012 - Eggs Ponded into Cap Troughs Our Egg Room is now officially closed for the season. The "hatched" eggs are fry and have been moved (or ponded) into the Capilano Troughs where they'll be raised until their next move to the Rearing Pond. Here's the count: Chum - 5,200 Coho - 16,900 18th January 2012 - Final egg take tally Fish and egg takes were completed by the end of December 2011. At that point, the following egg numbers were under management: Chum - 6580 Coho - 26225 These numbers will decrease slightly over time - as 'weaker' eggs die, they will be extracted from the egg trays so as not to contaminate the healthy ones. < 29th October 2011 - 1st Broodstock take. Now that the creek is full of fish, DFO asked HCWS to start taking some broodstock - males and females - for both Chum & Coho for egg extraction, fertilising and care by the dedicated volunteers at Hyde Creek. This was the first of several broodstock takes that will happen over the next month or so. Always a fun and exciting time - especially for those who are decked out in waders and chasing darting fish in the cold waters of Hyde Creek! Thanks to all who helped today - awesome job!!!!! Here's some action shots from this morning: I might be smiling, but there's something strange sneaking up behind me in the culvert! Oh whew - it's only another Hyde Creek volunteer! El Presidente Cliff Kelsey with a nice male Chum. The crew hard at work.............those salmon have no chance against this motley crew! It was great to see our newer, younger members getting down & dirty in the creek - AND having a blast doing it!!! Thanks Ashley, Dana and Janice (young at heart!) You want me to go where?.............in that dark culvert? You say there's fish in here somewhere? Photos - courtesy Monica Kelsey 25th September 2011 - BC Rivers Day. As per previous years, HCWS volunteers provided displays at two BC Rivers Day events. These were at the following locations: Maple Ridge 'Ridge Meadows Rivers Day' - ALLCO Hatchery, Maple Ridge Port Coquitlam 'Rivers & Trails Festival' - Peace Park, Port Coquitlam The weather call for the day was mostly rain - but that does not deter an intrepid HCWS volunteer! Ridge Meadows Rivers Day What a fantastic event. There was a wide range of activities happening; trout fishing, jumping castles, face-painting, music (several groups), virtual sports fishing, animals, displays, not to mention the hot dogs, burgers, chips and pop! The virtual sports fishing was a blast for us that had a turn at it - a huge video screen with the fish type of your choice and a real rod that was hooked up to a machine that literally 'fought' you as you reeled in your catch - just like the real thing! But that could not complete with the best event of the day - the kids fishing tournament. A special pond on the grounds was stocked with Rainbow Trout just for the day - and for a toonie donation, the kids could catch a fish. It was great to see their faces as they reeled in their catch! - this is what it ALL about! The rain held off for the majority of the day - but as we were heading home after 3pm, the skies opened up - sometimes you can get lucky! Below are some shots from the day - followed by a link to many more. What happens when a HCWS volunteer drinks too much coffee!!!! All ALLCO Photos: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=5618861f4b147ff8&page=play&resid=5618861F4B147FF8!1319 Rivers and Trails Festival The event at Peace Park was also marred by inclement weather - earlier than the event at Maple Ridge. Quoting our determined volunteers, it was 'wet, windy and poorly attended'. Not having the paddle-wheeler makes a difference. It could not be scheduled because there was no barge to moor it to while passengers are embarking/disembarking. All the available local barges are being used up in the new Port Mann bridge construction. Below are some photos of the Peace Park action. Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield (Peace Park) & B Wormald (ALLCO) 17th August 2011 - Second Coho Sampling session. On Wednesday August 17, DFO Advisor Scott Ducharme oversaw another session to check the health of the fry in our on-site pond - and it seems they are all doing very well. Eight members and one guest were present. Details: Random samples were taken Average weight was found to be 5.76 grams Average was around 76 mm Thanks to all that took part. Below are some photos of the session. (Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield) 7th August 2011 - Hyde Creek Invertebrate Study Sunday August 7 was another educational and fun day for some of our HCWS members. One of our intrepid Education Committee members, Giovanna, organised an invertebrate sampling and study session to see how Hyde Creek's health was holding up during our Summer season. For those that may not be aware, not only is catching and studying bugs & creepy-crawlies fun (just ask your kids!), but can be a reliable indicator of stream health. Different bugs have different tolerances to in-stream conditions - such as oxygen levels, pollutants etc etc - so the types of bugs that are found can tell you how the stream is doing. For example, Mayfly Nymphs and Caddisfly Larva are very intollerant to impurities in the water, so if it is noticed that they are decreasing in numbers in a stream, it is an indicator that something in not quite right. Just one of the many cues that mother nature gives us to help the earth stay in balance. If you missed out on this workshop and are interested in attending one, please call the hatchery (604-461-3474) and express some interest. Thanks to everyone who attended! Here's some photos of the day's action. Sampling (catching the critters!) Comparing catches! Separating the different critters into ice-cube trays for later study. Setting up the lab scope to get a closer look. The scope lens is hooked up to the TV monitor for a better view for the 'class'. This works great for our student tours as well! Workshop organiser Giovanna (left) is watching HCWS lab technician Terry (right) setting up the scope lens for viewing on the monitor. Fine tuning the view. Success - now the study begins! (Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield) 20th July 2011 - Coho Sampling Wednesday July 20 was an educational and fun day for nine HCWS members. The group started some 'Coho sampling' to see how our little charges were doing under our care. As it's a little difficult (not to mention tiresome) to weigh each fry individually, the skittish fry were first corralled into a seine net, then gathered into buckets. Each bucket was weighed on scales, then the fish were counted to get an average weight for each - which by the way was 3.86 grams. According to Scott Ducharme, one of our hard-working DFO Advisors on hand to oversee, the fry looked good and the weight was healthy. A testament to our fantastic volunteers. The sampling session was the first of four weekly exercises to be carried out at the Hatchery. If you would like to help out or to get more details, call us at the hatchery on 604-461-3474. Next session is scheduled for the end of the second week of August. Here's some actions shots from the day..........thanks everyone! The tools! The volunteers! (Scott is on the right). The roundup! He went that way - get 'im! Gotcha! Weighing and counting. Now, was that 78 or 87? Don't forget the paperwork! 12th July 2011 - Doe spotted in Hyde Creek This magnificent looking doe was spotted cooling it's hooves in Hyde Creek, near the confluence with Smiling Creek, on Tuesday July 12th. The shot was snapped by our intrepid Secretary, Nigel Butterfield. Seeing creatures like this is simply one of the many benefits of maintaining a healthy watershed - and makes our members' volunteer efforts even more worthy of merit. Thanks volunteers! (Photo - courtesy N. Butterfield) 31st May 2011 - Partial release of 2011 hatched Coho fry Around 25,000 Coho fry were released into both Hyde and Cedar Creeks over the last few days. The balance of our fry stock (approx 7,500) were placed into our on-site rearing pond for our hard-working volunteers to care for until they too are released in 12 months time. Here's some photos of the action.................. Netting the 'babies' from the troughs they have called home since hatching and putting them in the transportation tank - careful guys! Settling them into their new home.........be free, be free! All gone.............now the clean up! Thanks guys!!!!! (Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield) 19/20th May 2011 - Pond Cleanout After the fun of successfully releasing our 2010 hatched fry (now smolts) into Hyde Creek on May 15th, it was back to work. But this time, the City came to our rescue and made it a little easier.....read on. To prepare for moving our 2011 hatched fry from their large troughs into the rearing pond (where they will be lovingly cared for until this time in 2012), the onsite pond needed to be cleaned out. That involved draining it (easy task - just pump the water out!), then remove all the accumulated muck and silt from the bottom (not so easy - involves shoveling!). The City came to the rescue and lent their vacuum truck, complete with crew. Of course our hard working volunteers were disappointed at not having to shovel the bottom of the pond (well - maybe not)! Job well done..............thanks everyone. See some 'action' photos below. Getting ready to pump the water from the pond. Netting those elusive stragglers! Pressure washing the silt, mud & muck from the sides and centering it in one spot for 'pickup'. The City's worksaver!!! The City's 'vacuuming crew' hard at work - thanks guys! The result - a clean home - just add water!!! Ready for our 2011 hatched fry to take up residence. 15th May 2011 - Fish Release and Hatchery Tours! What a send off!!! Between 10:00am and 3:00pm on Sunday May 15th, members of the public helped helped the Hyde Creek Watershed Society members move thousands of Coho salmon smolts and fry into Hyde Creek. Not only that, they enjoyed hatchery tours, salmon and environmental exhibits, and the best BBQ hotdogs in PoCo! Below are only some of the photos from the day. There are also some other excellent photos from member Cliff Kelsey at: http://hydecreeksociety.blogspot.com/ We're confident that everyone had a great day and can't wait to share it all with you again next year. PS: Don't forget our 12th Annual Salmon Festival later this year on Sunday, November 13th where we welcome the adult spawners back into Hyde Creek. Preparing an adult salmon for a dissection demonstration. Recently hatched fry in one of our troughs. These will soon transfer to the on-site pond vacated by the fish released today! Shelter for our guests and hard-working volunteers. Some lucky young guests about to get a bucket of fish to release into the creek! This is what it's all about - our young guests discovering the joys of 'hands-on' education. Gently does it! (Photos - courtesy N. Butterfield) <