Watershed Education in Coquitlam’s City Centre

Team-building and getting FISHY with Douglas College staff as they stopped in to learn about our work during a nature walk in Hoy Creek Linear Park. Robbin from HSWS led two group stop ins.

This year, the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was thrilled to welcome local schools, Douglas College staff, and members of the City of Coquitlam Youth Council for watershed-focused tours at our hatchery. Guided with passion and insight by our volunteers Robbin Whachell and Anne Woosnam, these visits offered a firsthand look at the life cycle of salmon and the vital role of healthy watersheds in the heart of Coquitlam City Centre.

Learning In Action

Participants learned how hatchery operations support salmon enhancement, and discovered how streams like Hoy and Scott Creeks — nestled in the urban core — are critical salmon-bearing waterways. The experience helped bridge classroom learning with environmental stewardship, deepening participants' connection to their urban natural environment.

Riverside Secondary Fishing 11 class stopped by to learn about the two main species seen in Hoy Creek – Chum and Coho! We also hosted Gleneagle’s fly-fishing club.

Engaging the Next Generation

Tours with Douglas College staff and students offered future environmental leaders a behind-the-scenes perspective on salmon habitat restoration. Meanwhile, the Coquitlam Youth Council members, accompanied by their City staff discussed key topics that affect the city and hopefully will help spread watershed education in our community.

Salmon in the Classroom

This was the first year that we can recall, that eggs were provided for the Salmon in the Classroom program from our streams. We were so excited to have students and teachers return to release the hum salmon fry into Hoy Creek after carefully taking care of the salmon for months through the egg to fry stages! Read more

Coquitlam City Youth Council brought great questions from the civic view point.

Why It Matters

Getting students and youth leaders out into the watershed — especially in a landscape shaped by urban development — brings awareness to the delicate balance between city life and salmon-bearing streams. These tours foster a sense of responsibility and respect for the natural systems that sustain salmon and, by extension, our local ecosystems.

Thank You, Robbin & Anne

A heartfelt thank-you to Robbin and Anne for leading these educational tours with expertise and warmth. Your passion inspires both young learners and community leaders.

Invasive Species Work Integral for a Healthy Riparian

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Adela and Anne seen near a hedge of Smallflower touch-me-not on Hoy Trail.

This summer, the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society continued its important work tackling invasive plant species in Hoy Creek Linear Park — efforts led by our dedicated volunteers Anne Woosnam and Robbin Whachell. Invasive plants such as Himalayan balsam and Smallflower touch-me-not can quickly spread, outcompeting native plants and altering the habitat that salmon and other wildlife rely on. With the help of our volunteers and community partners, we’ve made great strides in reclaiming space for native species to thrive.

June: Smallflower Touch-Me-Not

Our summer work began in June with a focus on Smallflower touch-me-not (Impatiens parviflora), an invasive balsam species we first encountered along Hoy Trail last year. Despite last year’s efforts, it was clear how aggressively this plant can return — spreading quickly through the same areas.

Thanks to the persistence of Anne, Adela, and Robbin, we were able to pull large amounts from the trail edges before they could set seed. Early intervention is key, and each pull helps prevent further spread. (Learn more about this invasive balsam here: BC Invasives – Smallflower Touch-Me-Not)

July: Himalayan Balsam

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Anne helps fill bags and the wagon with tall Himalayan balsam along Hoy Trail.

End of June and into July, attention turned to Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), another invasive species that thrives in moist riparian areas like Hoy Creek. With its pink flowers and explosive seed pods, it may look beautiful, but it can quickly dominate streambanks and crowd out native plants.

This pull was a true community effort: together we filled nine large bags of balsam, with even more left in piles for collection. Volunteers included Anne, Tyler, Dylan, Matt, Rhyann, Lucas, and Robbin — along with Alex from Broombusters Coquitlam, who brought energy and expertise. A big thank-you as well to residents Jen and David, who jumped in after seeing us at work. That’s community stewardship in action!

We are grateful to the City of Coquitlam Natural Areas team for coordinating pickup, and to Broombusters Coquitlam for donating collection bags to support our efforts.

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)

Why It Matters

By removing invasive plants, we’re giving native species — the plants that provide food and shelter for insects, birds, and salmon — a better chance to flourish. Every bag pulled means less seed dispersal next season, and a healthier creekside ecosystem for years to come.

Thank You Volunteers

A huge thank you to Anne and Robbin for leading this summer’s invasive species pulls, and to every volunteer and community member who joined in. Your hands-on work is helping protect Hoy Creek and its surrounding habitat.

Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier watershed.

11,953 Coho Clipped at Hoy Creek Hatchery

HSWS Photo

On June 19, a dedicated team of volunteers and partners came together at Hoy Creek Hatchery to carry out an important milestone in our salmon enhancement efforts — fin clipping. Beginning at 4:00 p.m., our crew worked carefully and efficiently to clip the adipose fins of 11,953 young coho salmon, now approximately three months old.

The adipose fin, a soft, fleshy fin located behind the dorsal fin and ahead of the tail (caudal fin), is clipped for several key reasons:

• Stock assessment: Once these salmon return to spawn, the missing fin identifies them as hatchery-raised, aiding researchers and streamkeepers in tracking returns.

• Selective fisheries: In some regions, marked fish may be legally retained, supporting more sustainable fishing practices.

• Population tracking: Clipping allows for a manual fish count, providing a more accurate tally than previous weight-based estimates.

This year’s activity was led by DFO community advisor Eric Kukulowicz, with hatchery manager Tyler Storgaard overseeing on site. Additional DFO support came from Grace (biologist) and Cathy (former CA).

We’re incredibly grateful to our Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteers who contributed: Anne, Jiameng, Amy, Thomas, Suzz, Carter, Jenn, Tyler, Rodney, Jeremy, Dylan, Katelyn, Adela, and Breanna. A special thanks to Anne, who took time to explain the process to curious passersby in the park, helping educate our community about the importance of this annual task.

The process involves gently anesthetizing the fish in small batches. Once sleepy, they’re transferred to a water-filled trough where volunteers use sterilized surgical scissors to clip the fin quickly — usually within a minute before the fish begin to wake. From there, the salmon are returned to recover in a flow-through trough and then back into the hatchery.

Soon, these coho will be moved from the Capilano trough room to the hatchery’s rearing pond, where they’ll continue to grow until they are released in spring of 2026. If all goes well, we could see this brood return to Hoy Creek in 2.5 to 3 years’ time.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year's fin clipping a success. Your efforts support long-term salmon conservation and community-based stewardship.