salmon

Spawner Survey Report for 2023

Our spawner survey crew recently got some hands on experience with bio sampling salmon carcasses. (HSWS photo)

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Rodney Lee led our spawner survey for 2023.

Seven of our volunteers assisted in 13 surveys and put in a total of 40.5 hours.

Spawner surveys are a basic form of stock assessment where the data can be used to gauge the health of salmon returns. In short, we walk the creek and count live and dead salmon (by species) to get a sense of the number of returning fish. Data is submitted to the Streamkeeper’s database as well as to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Participants walk in chest waders in and around the stream including stepping over fallen trees, walking on in-stream rocks and muddy banks, and crouching under overhanging tree branches to identify salmon species targeting chum and coho but occasionally other species (chinook, pink) may have been seen.

The weekly survey area was the stretch of Hoy Creek from the Johnson St. pool (between Glen and Guildford) to Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam and statistics were taken from October through to January.

Here are the survey details which provide totals of carcasses for chum and coho, as well as peak live counts. We have compared them to our 2021 and 2022 results in the chart below.

Volunteers measure the salmon and record findings. (HSWS photo)

2023 Spawner Survey Data and Comparison to 2022 and 2021

*Please note that this exercise is not a population estimate and annual results can be affected by several factors including weather patterns.

NOTE: Should you see salmon in the creek that have been cut in half, or have the tail or head cut off, from October through December that could mean those salmon have been marked for the annual Salmon Spawner Survey. We count live and dead fish weekly in a designated stretch of the stream. The dead salmon are cut as to not double count the dead fish the next week. This helps get an absolute count of salmon that have spawned in a particular area of a stream.

Rare Chinook salmon sighting in Hoy Creek

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Matthew Watts holds a beautiful Chinook salmon while crouched in Hoy Creek on November 11, 2023. The discovery happened after heavy rainfall.

While not common, it’s not unusual to see fish like this enter our streams in Coquitlam under such high water flows.

“We were on Hoy Creek at the trap site targeting Coho,” said Matthew. “I was joined by Tyler Storgaard and Elias Ozmanzai, a volunteer with the Coquitlam River Hatchery. It was about noon and we set our sein nets in the water. As we worked the sein through the pool we saw something big hit one of the nets. After untangling it we new it was a Chinook based of its sheer size and body profile. “

“Another good indication for a Chinook is its black gums. This specific fish was a male and likely weighed 6-10kg. Every year there are a few Chinook present in the creek but we don't always get to experience them up close. Quite a healthy fish, all I could remember was the girth of the tail where I held it. “

Society Conducting Annual Spawner Salmon Survey

An example of what you could see in the section where the salmon survey is taking place. Dead fish are cut so as to not count them the next time we pass the same area. (HSWS photo)

Should you see salmon in Hoy Creek or Scott Creek that have been cut in half, or have the tail or head cut off, that means those salmon have been marked for our annual Salmon Spawner Survey.

We count live and dead fish weekly in a designated stretch of the stream. The dead salmon are cut so as to not double-count the dead fish the next week. This helps get an absolute count of salmon that have spawned in a particular area of a stream.

Spawner surveys are a basic form of stock assessment where the data can be used to gauge the health of salmon returns. In short, we walk the creek and count live and dead salmon (by species) to get a sense of the number of returning fish. Data is submitted to the Streamkeeper’s database as well as to Fisheries & Oceans Canada.

Each week, results are recorded.

Questions? Email us at hoyscottcreeks@gmail.com

Salmon Poaching on Scott Creek

(Photo: HSWS)

On Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 members of Hoy/Scott Watershed Society were out scouting salmon, and came across this carcass near Dewdney Trunk Road at Scott Creek in Coquitlam.

It was very fresh, so likely the salmon was filleted within the past 24 hours.

It's ILLEGAL to fish in local streams, which also includes the removal of carcasses (dead fish). Dead or alive, it is illegal to take fish. If you want to fish, you must have a license to fish, and you must know where it's okay to fish.

If you see people fishing at local streams in any way – with a line, net, or anything else, please contact "Report All Poachers and Polluters" (RAPP) and fill out this form. Or call 1-877-952-7277 or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network.

Or fisheries violations, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) at 1-800-465-4336. You can also contact your local RCMP detachment or municipal police.

New Salmon Statue at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Visitors of Hoy Creek Linear Park will notice a new salmon statue beside Hoy Creek, this one with its kype (nose) facing upstream.

The original salmon statue, now aged and chipped has been moved to a new spot, now visible by those entering the park from Princess Crescent east of the Hoy Creek Hatchery.

“It was an exciting time for our volunteers to take part in the cement pouring, and the later positioning of the new salmon, “ said hatchery manager and Hoy/Scott Watershed Society vice president, Tyler Storgaard. “We’ve heard stories from when the first one was poured at least 20 years ago, and founding member, the late Chris Hamming was involved. His wife, Henrietta said that her husband Chris couldn’t believe that they forgot to place it pointing upstream, so it was great to finally correct this with the new statue.”

After the mold had set for a few weeks, the salmon was revealed and set into place on September 23. The Society wishes to thank the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Salmonid Enhancement Program, our community advisor, Isaac Nelson, and technician, Eric Kukulowicz, for their support in casting this new statue.

Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard puts water into the cement mixer on Sept. 16 when the statue was cast.

The old salmon statue being moved at Hoy Creek.

New salmon statued put in place on Sept. 23, 2023

Surplus Coho Fry Released

Matt nets some Coho fry to release into the creek.

On June 29, Hoy Creek Hatchery held approximately 8,405 coho fry.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society's annual aquaculture license with federal fisheries allows us to incubate up to 25,000 eggs but only release 5,000 1-year-old Coho smolts from that brood year in May.

Any excess are released to other creek areas. From those locations, the Coho fry can make use of the habitat, grow and eventually make their way out to the ocean to complete their lifecycle.

Transport bin.

Matt releasing fish into the stream.

HSWS volunteers Tyler Storgaard and Matthew Watts weighed and counted out our surplus fry (5,265), loaded up the truck for transport and released them at 8 different locations along Hoy and Scott creeks. The fry weighed approximately 3.5 grams and are about 5 months old.

The remaining hatchery fry will be transferred to the rearing pond at Hoy Creek and will remain there until they will be released at our Salmon Leave Home event in May 2024.

Society Takes Part in Salmon Enhancement Community Workshop

Left to right from HSWS: Anne Woosnam, Robbin Whachell, Kim Mayes and Matthew Watts.

Several members of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society attended the Salmonid Enhancement Program Community Workshop held from May 19 – 22 in Port Hardy, BC.

The weekend was full of education, entertainment, and camaraderie, all shared with a community of heartfelt volunteers who are stewards for salmon in BC. The Tri-Cities and Burnaby were very well-represented.

The event opened with a traditional welcome by Kwakiutl First Nation. There was a myriad of educational sessions and field trips or tours throughout the weekend. One was a day trip to Alert Bay and the U'Mista Centre to learn about the area's First Nation history and the significance of the Potlatch. There was also a forestry tour, Joey's Museum tour, coast guard tour, beach seine tour, local hatchery tour, and a bird-watching tour.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society would like to thank the Port Hardy hosts for their planning and delivery of an excellent workshop.

The Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) “aims to rebuild vulnerable salmon stocks, provide harvest opportunities, work with Indigenous and coastal communities in economic development, and improve fish habitat to sustain salmon populations.”

Rodney Lee, a long time volunteer member of HSWS was representing the Kwikwetlem First Nation where he works.

Salmon Released by the Public at Hoy Creek Hatchery

A girl releases a Coho smolt into Hoy Creek at Salmon Leave Home at Hoy Creek Hatchery. (HSWS Photo)

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) held its annual Salmon Leave Home event on May 14, and was pleased to return to a public release of the approximately 18-month-old Coho smolts that have been living in the outdoor rearing pond since last May. This was the first time since 2019 that the public was able to assist with the salmon release, due to the pandemic.

The Society moved the event time to the afternoon to give families time to celebrate Mom (it was Mother’s Day). Weather conditions were hot with a high of 32C, but despite that, a steady stream of people came through the Hoy Creek Hatchery area. To the delight of many, wild Coho fry were visible from the footbridge.

The community had the opportunity to carry a bucket of Coho smolts to Hoy Creek for release; take a peek at the six-month-old Coho fry in the hatchery’s Capilano trough room; meet the volunteers and learn about the Society; make a Mother's Day greeting card using leaves; play the Plinko game and get salmon past predators to saltwater safety; sign a Farewell to the Coho Grads of 2023 card; sign a pledge to protect the salmon; and explore Hoy Creek Linear Park.

After a Land Acknowledgement by HSWS president, Kyle Uno, the MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, Fin Donnelly provided a few words before Kyle presented Keith Kozak, the Society’s first president, with a certificate of appreciation and a gift. Keith spoke about the early years of getting the Society up and running.

The event was supported by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with Isaac Nelson overseeing the fish release.

The Society would like to thank all its volunteers for the time spent supporting the event, and the community who came out to help. A special thank you to the event sponsor, the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program!

Salmon Leave Home 2023 'unofficial' photo: Thanks to our HSWS volunteers who were manning our areas of the event so that some of us could gather for a group photo with our special guests.

Back row, left to right: Tyler Storgaard, Isaac Nelson (DFO), Hannah Tonsaker; Matthew Watts; Henrietta Hamming (wife of the late Chris Hamming, HSWS founder); Robbin Whachell; Keith Kozak (founding member/HSWS first president); and Rodney Lee.

Front row, Fin Donnelly, MLA; and Kyle Uno, current HSWS president.



Spawner Survey Report for 2022

Coho counted in annual spawner survey (HSWS photo)

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Rodney Lee led our spawner survey for 2022. Assisting him this year were Matthew Watts, Krista Englund and Travis Smith.

Spawner surveys are a basic form of stock assessment where the data can be used to gauge the health of salmon returns. In short, we walk the creek and count live and dead salmon (by species) to get a sense of the number of returning fish. Data is submitted to the Streamkeeper’s database as well as to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Participants walk in chest waders in and around the stream including stepping over fallen trees, walking on in-stream rocks and muddy banks, and crouching under overhanging tree branches to identify salmon species targeting chum and coho but occasionally other species (chinook, pink) may have been seen.

The weekly survey area was the stretch of Hoy Creek from the Johnson St. pool (between Glen and Guildford) to Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam and statistics were taken from Oct. 24 to Dec. 17.

Here are the survey details which provide totals of carcasses for chum and coho, as well as peak live counts. We have compared them to our 2021 results in the chart below.

NOTE: Should you see salmon in the creek that have been cut in half, or have the tail or head cut off, from October through December that could mean those salmon have been marked for the annual Salmon Spawner Survey. We count live and dead fish weekly in a designated stretch of the stream. The dead salmon are cut as to not double count the dead fish the next week. This helps get an absolute count of salmon that have spawned in a particular area of a stream.

Society Attends Annual Streamkeepers Roundtable

Tyler Storgaard (seated left) speaks about the Society’s membership

Streamkeepers in and around Vancouver’s Lower Mainland met in Burnaby on March 6 to share information.

The roundtable was hosted by the Stoney Creek Environment Committee and those participating were asked to present the following from the past year:

  • Highlights

  • Challenges

The evening served as a time to share thoughts and to discuss collaboration so as to improve behaviours and practices in and around the watersheds we all represent.

Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard provided a presentation on behalf of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS). Supporting him were the HSWS president and directors.

The Society would like to thank the Stoney Creek Environment Committee for ensuring worthwhile meetings like this take place.

Over 12 streamkeeper groups were present.