Laptop computer donated to Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS

Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS

A big thank you to Hoy-Scott Watershed member, Lilian Elliott who donated her laptop computer to the Society. It will be used for public presentations.

Lilian and her husband Earl have been active members of the society since 2006.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the society is Kyle Uno, Treasurer.   The presentation was made at our monthly meeting at Coquitlam Library on March 15th, 2017.

Thank you Lilian!

Coffee and Collaboration at February HSWS Meeting

Stewart Brotchie receives a box of Spirit Bear coffee from Jay Peachy after a presentation by Jay at our recent meeting

Stewart Brotchie receives a box of Spirit Bear coffee from Jay Peachy after a presentation by Jay at our recent meeting

We'd like to thank Jay Peachy, of the Wild Salmon Caravan for presenting at the Hoy - Scott Watershed Society's monthly meeting on February 15, 2017. Jay has been involved in our previous festivals by providing entertainment, and art-related activities, as well as Spirit Bear coffee.

After his presentation on the breadth of the services he and the Wild Salmon Caravan offer he presented the Society with a generous donation of Spirit Bear Coffee!

"I'm happy to support the good work the society does for the salmon and the community," said Jay Peachy.

Groups or persons wishing to present at one of our meetings, or who may have an idea for a collaboration, can email us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com.

Albino chum discovered at Hoy Creek Hatchery

An albino chum salmon fry seen next to normal chum fry

An albino chum salmon fry seen next to normal chum fry

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society's hatchery manager, Rodney Lee discovered a rare albino chum salmon fry this past week while assessing fish in the incubation room at Hoy Creek hatchery in Coquitlam.

Last year we found a conjoined twin coho fry

Hair Ice a Beautiful Discovery in the Watershed

Hair ice or frost seen in Hoy Trail, Coquitlam, BC, Canada (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Hair ice or frost seen in Hoy Trail, Coquitlam, BC, Canada (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Walking along Hoy Trail on a chilly zero-degree snow-less January 2015 morning, Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) member Robbin was delighted to spot Haareis or “Hair Ice” which is an ice or frost formation. 

"I was picking up trash along the trail and at first thought it was dropped Kleenex tissue. I went to pick itup and was amazed at what I saw," said Robbin. "I was so excited to keep spotting it, I even called a man over who was walking his dog."

Hair ice is said to only grow on humid winter nights when the temperature is just below 0°C. When there is no snow it's easy to spot, but many pass it by thinking it is simply snow.

Hair ice spotted in January 2017 along Hoy Trail (Photo: Robbin Whachell /HSWS)

Hair ice spotted in January 2017 along Hoy Trail (Photo: Robbin Whachell /HSWS)

“Hair Ice is ice that grows outward from the surface of the wood, as super-cooled water emerges from the wood, freezes and adds to the hairs from the base,” says Dr. James R. Carter, Professor Emeritus, at Illinois State University, who wrote about Hair Ice on his website(HERE) and interestingly enough, many of his photos are from Vancouver Island, Canada.

“… the hairs of ice do not grow from linear fissures in a stem but rather appear to come out of pores in the wood.  As such they are similar to hair on a head,” writes Dr. Carter.

In 2015, BBC wrote about the mysterious ice formation, saying that scientists have discovered that the formations are actually caused by a fungus called Exidiopsis effusa found on rotting wood.

See more photos of hair ice and watch a time-lapse video of it forming HERE.

We encourage the community to keep an eye out for hair ice when they are in the watershed.

Hair ice pushing out from inside a twig(Photo: Robbin Whachell /HSWS)

Hair ice pushing out from inside a twig(Photo: Robbin Whachell /HSWS)

Hair ice in the early morning along Hoy Trail, Coquitlam, B.C. Canada (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Hair ice in the early morning along Hoy Trail, Coquitlam, B.C. Canada (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Happy Holidays from Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Snow at Hoy Creek(Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Snow at Hoy Creek(Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Happy Holidays!  2016 was a great year for us!  Here's just some of what we accomplished at the Hoy Creek Hatchery:

FISH (Coho) MARKED (clipped): 6,068
FISH (Coho) RELEASED in May:  18,732 (13,336 fry; 5396 smolts)
EGGS HARVESTED* by mid-December: Est # of 65,889 (Coho: 30298, Chum: 35,591) - this is our first year raising both chum and coho since the mid 1990s.

We take this time to welcome our 2016 new HSWS members: AJ, Sarah, Tiffany, Lily, Jamie, Tyson, Carlos, Etienne, Ivo, Isabella, Daniel, Maurice, Tyson, Simone, Shannon, Patrick and Ashley, and thank all of our existing members and supporters such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the City of Coquitlam, Kwikwetlem First Nation, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation, Pacific Salmon Foundation, 98.7 The Point radio, Coquitlam Foundation,  and Vancity.

You can read all our 2016 happenings and news HERE.

We hope to see you at our Salmon Leave Home event on May 7th, 2017!

"Get to know your watershed. Salmon and their habitat can’t protect themselves - we need to care and advocate for both. Visit a stream, talk to your local stewardship group, and view the fish and habitat. Understand the issues. Monitor and report suspicious activity." - HSWS quoted in the Tri-City News

From from all of us at Hoy - Scott Watershed Society we wish you every happiness this Holiday Season and throughout the coming New Year...

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) is a volunteer run non-profit society that operates a small salmon hatchery beside Hoy Creek, and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and with technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The group stewards the Hoy and Scott Watersheds, promoting public awareness and education, and is involved in watershed habitat restoration and preservation.  Learn more at our website: hoyscottcreeks.org

Local MLA tours Hoy Creek Hatchery

Jodie Wickens after her tour of the Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam

Jodie Wickens after her tour of the Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam

On November 29th, Jodie Wickens, MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain stopped by for a tour of our facility. Throughout the year we provide tours by special arrangement based on our availability, since we are a volunteer-run society.

Curious about all the things the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society gets up to? Do you want to view our salmon enhancement program and the Hoy Creek Hatchery (seen here)? Want to join us as a volunteer?

We invite you to our next Open House on the first Saturday of everyone month from 12 noon to 1:30pm.

If Saturday is not conducive for you, please email us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com and we'll do our best to accommodate.

Hoy / Scott Watershed Society is a non-profit group that runs a small salmon hatchery, and conducts a salmon enhancement program in Coquitlam, BC, Canada

In Memory of Dulce Paulino

Dulce helping with invasive plant removal at Hoy Creek in 2015

Dulce helping with invasive plant removal at Hoy Creek in 2015

In October our society lost a valued member and dear friend. Dulce Paulino had been serving Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) for over 2 years, and was always there to lend a hand. She was involved in salmon feeding, hatchery maintenance, fin clipping, riparian work along Hoy and Scott Creeks, trail and stream cleaning, as well as representing our society at public events. She also took the Streamkeepers certification training course offered by the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.

"Dulce loved the hatchery and her work with the Society," said hatchery manager Rodney Lee. "She was one of the warmest, kindest people that I know of and I will miss her enthusiasm as part of our group.  She always wanted to get involved regardless of how she was feeling.  She told me it was always 'better than staying at home.'  Weed pull - Dulce was there.  Fin clipping - she was there too.  In the few years she had been with the group, she participated - feeding, staffing our booth at events, stream keeper's course.  It didn't matter.  And to wrap up each event 'okay, it's time for a picture!' Dulce would say.  Her willful spirit will live on among us."

Dulce representing HSWS with colleagues Malcolm and Kyle at the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival in 2015.

Dulce representing HSWS with colleagues Malcolm and Kyle at the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival in 2015.

"Dulce was always great at remembering to take photos of our activities," said HSWS president Robbin Whachell. "She was also very proud of her husband Ed's photography and would send us his photos for use on our website, posters and banners, and our Facebook page. Thanks to Dulce we have been able to document much of our efforts."

"Dulce was always willing to help out for any event, especially the weed pulls and the stream cleanups ," said HSWS treasurer Kyle Uno. "I will always remember how proud she was of her son Daniel.

Dulce during our Scott Creek cleanup in 2015.

Dulce during our Scott Creek cleanup in 2015.

"Dulce always struck me as a positive person.  She never hesitated to volunteer for anything, and was always smiling," said HSWS director Chris Hamming.

Dulce Lagdameo Paulino was born June 8, 1961 in Quezon City, Philippines. Her Celebration of Lifewas held on October 28th at the St. Claire Assisi Parish in Coquitlam.  The program booklet said, "As a volunteer, Dulce loved nature and enjoyed helping in the community and in her church and in any type of organization where her service was welcomed. She was a selfless woman who dedicated her life to doing charity work..."

The Society extends our condolences to Dulce's family, in particular to Ed, Monique and Daniel.

Dulce clearing garbage from Hoy Creek.

Dulce clearing garbage from Hoy Creek.

We thank Dulce for her years of service to our Society. She will be greatly missed.

A Book of Memories for Dulce was set up by her family for people to offer condolences and can be viewed HERE.

Dulce with the Coquitlam Bear during the City of Coquitlam's Environment Awards in 2015.

Dulce with the Coquitlam Bear during the City of Coquitlam's Environment Awards in 2015.

HSWS featured in Tri-City News 'Saving our Salmon' (SOS) series

Thank you for your support, Tri-City News!

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was quoted in the The Tri-City News on November 16th, 2016, along with other stewardship groups, on how we can all do our part in protecting wild salmon.

"Get to know your watershed. Salmon and their habitat can’t protect themselves - we need to care and advocate for both. Visit a stream, talk to your local stewardship group, and view the fish and habitat. Understand the issues. Monitor and report suspicious activity." - HSWS

Part 1

We were also featured on November 19th through a site visit by reporter Sarah Payne. Both HSWS president, Robbin Whachell, and vice president and hatchery manager, Rodney Lee were interviewed for the article.

Chum salmon program now underway at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Department of Fisheries reps led by Scott Ducharme (right) lead HSWS members through a chum egg take on October 26th at Hoy Creek Hatchery. 

Department of Fisheries reps led by Scott Ducharme (right) lead HSWS members through a chum egg take on October 26th at Hoy Creek Hatchery. 

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society began incubating chum eggs in October and November.  The Society had only been raising coho salmon for the past twenty-years or so.  The addition of chum was made possible through the generous support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation enabling us to purchase and install a new incubation stack and piping for our Capilano trough room. Thanks also to the DFO and City of Coquitlam.

The hatchery has not raised chum since the mid 1990s and applied to do so again in 2015.

"Most of the chum eggs are now eyed and doing great. We had a poor survival rate in 2 of the trays, but the remainder looked good," said hatchery manager Rodney Lee. Coho egg-takes are our next focus and are now underway.

The new chum egg incubation stack is now incubating over 36,000 eggs.  Thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, DFO and the City of Coquitlam for contributions to complete the project.

The new chum egg incubation stack is now incubating over 36,000 eggs.  Thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, DFO and the City of Coquitlam for contributions to complete the project.

 

In the videos below, eggs from 4 chum salmon are fertilized by hand at Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam. Guided by Scott Ducharme of the DFO.  See MORE PHOTOS on our Facebook page.