Robbin Whachell

Talitha Koum Spends Morning Supporting Local Streams

Along Hoy Creek on a beautiful fall day.

Thanks to the ladies from the Talitha Koum Society who put in two hours of community service on November 16, helping us clean the trails and banks of Hoy and Scott Creeks in Coquitlam. They were blessed to see salmon along the way and had glorious sunshine.

The activity was led by Robbin Whachell from the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society.

Finds included a barbecue, a fire extinguisher, a tap shoe, brake pads, and a package of false eyelashes. There was the usual clothing, bottles, cans, and fast food trash.

Clearing trash along Hoy Trail just north of Barnet Highways.

Along Scott Creek on Runnel Drive.

2023 AGM and Elections Held

Meet our executive team for the next year! Left to right: Kim Mayes, Director; Robbin Whachell, Director; Tyler Storgaard, Vice President; Matthew Watts, Director; Sandra Uno, Treasurer; and Kyle Uno, President. (Missing: Anne Woosnam, Secretary)

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society held an annual general meeting on Sept. 27, 2023, at the Coquitlam library and voted in the following new directors who were re-appointed to the executive:

Director - Kim Mayes

Director - Matthew Watts

Director - Robbin Whachell

The three join the existing executive:

President - Kyle Uno

Vice President - Tyler Storgaard

Treasurer - Sandra Uno

Secretary - Anne Woosnam

The Society would like to thank Rodney Lee who stepped down after years of supporting the executive in a variety of positions. He will remain an active member.

Through stewardship, community outreach, education and advocacy, we are dedicated to protecting the Hoy/Scott Watershed.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, (HSWS) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run environmental stewardship group, that conducts a year-round salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

President Kyle Uno (left) gives an annual report, as treasurer Sandra Uno (center) takes minutes in the absence of Anne Woosnam. Director Kim Mayes looks on.


Data Logger Redeployed in Hoy Creek

Matt Watts helped with the first deployment in 2022 of the temperature data logger, housed within the cinder block you can see in Hoy Creek. This one went missing through the winter/spring.

In August of 2022, volunteers of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society went to deploy a temperature logger in Hoy Creek north of the hatchery.

The logger which can be held in the palm of one’s hand was fixed within a cinder block to hold it steady in the stream.

Over the winter/spring however, the block must have been moved along with the movement of heavy water flow and other rocks tumbling down the stream, as when we returned in late spring the logger was nowhere to be found, even though we found the cinder block.

The logger that went missing, seen in Nikki’s hand, connects to the HOBO app.

A deployment report being done on June 7, detailing location, date, water depth, etc, as well as to ensure the logger has been connected to the app. Seen here, Anne Woosnam records while Nikki provides the information.

In June of 2023, we returned again with Nikki Kroetcsh, DFO’s PSEC Community Engagement Coordinator to redeploy another logger, this time fixing it within a case to the cement barrier along the stream.

It's important to capture photos as when we return to check the logger and upload data into an app on our phone, the location can change drastically.

We’re pretty sure this one will stay put!

The Society is maintaining two other locations with loggers. One is south of the hatchery and monitors temperature, and the third one is adjacent to the hatchery which monitors temperature and other details, however, this one is not to be confused with the Flowlink monitoring system.

See our Facebook photo album.

Nikki prepared the casing to house the logger, which will be secured to the concrete wall seen in front of her.

The new casing for the logger can been seen fixed to the concrete beneath the water. Let’s hope it remains there! Photos taken by Robbin Whachell.

Society Acknowledged at Coquitlam Environmental Volunteer Celebration

Environmental Volunteer Celebration

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was acknowledged by the City of Coquitlam at their Environmental Volunteer Celebration held on June 4 at Blue Mountain Park. Thanks to Robbin Whachell and Adela Chen for attending and representing the Society.

Words were provided by the mayor of Coquitlam, Richard Stewart as well as Caresse Selk, Environment Manager.

Along with lunch, attendees enjoyed a tree walk through Blue Mountain Park as well as live music and displays and activities. It was a perfect time to connect with other community environmental leaders.

Our highlights from 2022 were on display!

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.



Hoy Creek Hatchery named Grand Champion

A photo with the Communities in Bloom ‘Grand Champion’ certificate. Left to right: Robbin Whachell, HSWS Director of Communications; Kyle Uno, HSWS President; and Anne Woosnam, HSWS Secretary / Asst. Hatchery Manager.

The City of Coquitlam - Municipality hosted an evening to celebrate their Communities in Bloom - Collectivités en fleurs accolades on Nov. 10, 2022 at the Vancouver Golf & Country Club. Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was acknowledged as 'Grand Champions' for the Hoy Creek Hatchery with the Coquitlam receiving the prestigious 5 Bloom Gold status.

A big thanks to assistant hatchery manager, Anne Woosnam, who led our Coquitlam in Bloom judges' tour when they came through town in July 2022.

Following their evaluation, volunteer CiB judges Berta Briggs and Larry Hall wrote, "The City of Coquitlam provides support to groups to implement some amazing programmes and projects. The Hoy Creek Hatchery is a project of the Hoy/Scott Creek Watershed Society. The Hatchery is located in a public park for all to learn about and witness the raising of salmon through many stages until they are ready for release. All work is done by volunteers under the guidance of the Watershed Society and the City. Water monitoring is constant to assure water quality is ongoing. As important as the Hatchery is to maintain fish populations, just as important are the learning opportunities and the human relationships that are fostered. The waterways are such an important part of natural heritage and their health is vital to environmental protection. One of Coquitlam's slogans is "Fun is in our Nature" and the Hoy Creek Hatchery provides fun for many while they work to preserve and protect nature."

"Communities in Bloom is about greening through environmental, natural heritage conservation and horticultural actions that involve citizens, businesses, institutions, and municipalities. The program is focused on environmental stewardship through the enhancement of green spaces.

A Tri-City News article stated, "Coquitlam took the prestigious '5 Blooms - gold' accolade in the Grand Champions category, with a special shout-out for the Hoy Creek Hatchery that it runs with the Hoy/Scott Creek Watershed Society."

Trash collected from Hoy and Scott Creeks and adjacent trails

Three of the four volunteers out on Aug. 20 at Runnel Drive. Left to right: Matthew Watts, Anne W., and Tyler Storgaard. (HSWS photo)

Volunteer work at the hatchery during the summer turns to focus on the riparian area and clean streams. It’s an optimal time of year to mark storm drains as well. It’s also a key time to review the creek system and look for jams which are often a mix of large trash items and fallen tree debris that could hinder salmon passage.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was out several times in August and early September working along Hoy Creek in Coquitlam at various locations. In total, nine large contractor bags of trash were removed, along with other large items, such as a bed frame and car muffler.

On August 20th, the area of the stream at Runnel Drive near Lansdowne was the focus. Collected were lots of loose plastics and fast food containers, as well as price tags. A baby playpen was pulled from the creek, along with construction signage, toys, clothes, needles and packaging. Four volunteers collected four large bags of trash that were removed in less than two hours. View more photos of the Runnel clean on our Facebook album.

Trash removed adjacent to the stream at Lansdowne and Runnel. (HSWS photo)

Matthew and Tyler unload bags of trash from truck into the wheel barrel after the Aug. 20 stream clean. (HSWS photo)

On Sept. 3 we worked on a section of Hoy Creek behind Mr. Lube. Three volunteers collected three large bags of trash in two hours. Wooden pallets, a muffler, and several two-by-fours were pulled from Hoy Creek just north of the Barnet Highway bridge. The rubbish haul included many clothing items, books, price tags, needles, stuffed animals, cans, bottles, face masks, and general plastic fast food carton waste.

View more photos on our Facebook page.

Sofia and Anne stand in front just some of the trash removed in two hours along Hoy Creek, behind Mr. Lube in Coquitlam.

Robbin Whachell stands in Hoy Creek to break up debris and remove trash.

New Executive for Hoy/Scott Watershed Society

The new executive of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society 2022. Seen left to right: Robbin Whachell, Director; Anne Woosnam, Secretary; Kim Mayes, Director; Matthew Watts, Director; Sandra Uno, Treasurer; Kyle Uno, President; Rodney Lee, Director; Samantha Carpenter, Director; and Tyler Storgaard, Vice President. (Photo: HSWS)

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society held its annual general meeting on May 18. The meeting, with elections, were held virtually through Zoom conferencing.

The new executive is as follows:

  • President: Kyle Uno

  • Vice President: Tyler Storgaard

  • Treasurer: Sandra Uno

  • Secretary: Anne Woosnam

  • Directors: Rodney Lee, Robbin Whachell, Kim Mayes, Matthew Watts and Sam Carpenter

Thanked after serving three terms as secretary and one year as a director is Emily Rossi. Lani Lehun was also thanked for her years as a director and work as the past assistant hatchery manager. Anne Woosnam steps in as the new assistant hatchery manager, as announced by hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard.

The Society is looking forward to input and enthusiasm from new executive members and will be getting together for a planning meeting to review the year ahead.

The photo above was taken after work digging invertebrates from the hatchery rearing pond which is now empty and drained. The coho smolts were released on May 14 and the pond will be cleaned and refilled to soon house the 2021/22 coho fry until release in May 2023.

Hoy - Scott Watershed Society, (HSWS) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run environmental stewardship group, that conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

 

Realtime Water Monitoring Set-up at Hoy Creek

Thanks to the City of Coquitlam, on February 10, Flowlink Environmental set up a water monitoring system on Hoy Creek near the hatchery.

Flowlink had already been working with Hoy/Scott Watershed Society since the beginning of 2021 providing manual weekly testing, but this new setup provides real-time monitoring and an alert system.

"We're really excited about this new arrangement and hope it will lead to swift results in identifying pollutants and hopefully polluters, resulting in a safer environment for our salmon at the hatchery as well as in the stream," said society president, Robbin Whachell.

Over the years, the hatchery has had several fish kills in the stream as well as a major fish kill in the hatchery.


Related:

Steve of Flowlink on his first bi-weekly visit by the company to ensure all equipment is operating accurately.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society featured on Hong Kong radio show

Dan Yip, a former resident of Coquitlam and the host of "Hello, Sunrise" on RTHK in Hong Kong interviewed our president, Robbin Whachell about the salmon return and Hoy Creek Hatchery, as well as the work we do at the Hoy - Scott Watershed Society.

Dan sent questions and Robbin recorded the responses for him. The segment aired on Oct. 25, 2021.

If you know Cantonese, you can listen to PART 2, starting at the 7-minute mark for the 15 min segment with him discussing with the co-host. You can hear Robbin’s voice (English) come in around the 20-minute mark, where Dan’s co-host translates what she is saying.

"I hope my program can help promote the Salmon Run, especially among the Cantonese communities in Greater Vancouver," said Dan.

We hope so too!

LISTEN HERE —- select PART 2 (bottom link) for the 7-minute or 20-min mark.