Hoy-Scott Watershed Society Conducts Successful Monthly Open Houses

[UPDATED: NEW TIMES as of Oct. 2017 is 10 to 11:30 a.m.]

While our volunteers are always open to visits and questions from the public when working at the hatchery or in the riparian area, this year we conducted monthly open houses on the first Saturday of each month. This allows potential volunteers, and the public, a time to learn more about our work, and tour our facility. 

Open houses will not run during the summer (July, August), but will return on Saturday, September 3rd, from 12 noon to 1:30 pm.

You can reach us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com to request a tour. Please note that tours are dependent on volunteer availability.

Over 6000 coho fry marked at Hoy Creek Hatchery

A HSWS volunteer carefully clips the adipose fin of a sedated coho fry

On June 21st, 2016 the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society conducted another successful fin-clipping exercise with over 6000 young coho salmon which had been thriving in the Capilano trough room of the hatchery located on Hoy Creek since approximately December 2015.

"This was our third year of doing the fin clip exercise to identify our fish as 'hatchery' salmon," said hatchery manager, Rodney Lee. The fish are first sedated, and then the adipose-fin (small top back fin) is carefully snipped off. The entire operation is overseen by the Department of Fisheries.

"We clipped over 6000 fry in two hours thanks to our volunteers," said Rodney. "The fish recover quickly and will be moved to our rearing pond in a few days, where they will live until their release next May. They will then head out to the ocean, and when they return, this is our way of identifying them."

Volunteers work diligently,  and quickly clipping and counting coho fry

View our entire PHOTO ALBUM on Facebook HERE.

Under the supervision of the Department of Fisheries, Hoy Creek Hatchery held another successful fin-clip exercise of over 6000 coho on June 21st.

Long-serving HSWS member acknowledged at Coquitlam Environmental Achievement Awards

Some of our current members in attendance from left to right: Chris Hamming, Ducle Paulino, Lilian Elliott, Robbin Whachell, Kyle Uno and Nathen Blower. (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

On June 11th the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society attended the annual awards night put on by the City of Coquitlam at Dogwood Pavillion to honour and thank local groups and recognize individuals, organizations and educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting, conserving and enhancing Coquitlam’s natural environment.

It was an extra special evening for us as our one or of society's longest-serving members, EARL ELLIOTT (Seen below, right), was honoured in the individual category. Earl happened to be out of town on a kayaking trip, but his wife Lilian accepted on his behalf.

Earl Elliott joined the Hoy Scott Watershed Society in November 2006, starting as one of our daily feeders, which he still continues to this day.  Earl is a conscientious and committed volunteer and is always there to lend a hand where needed. He participates and helps out at our annual Salmon Come Home and Salmon Leave Home Festivals, our annual stream clean ups, as well as assists with our invasive plant removals and hatchery maintenance, now contributing close to 1000 man hours.

Lilian Elliott accepted her husband Earl's award certificate on his behalf.

In 2012, the Society was at a crossroads, with a decline in volunteers and/or those retiring from active service.  Earl stepped up and assumed the Vice President role, as well as assisted hatchery manager, Rodney Lee, in a new weekly public engagement activity that boosted membership and commitment levels.  Without Earl’s commitment and active role in operations, the Hoy-Scott Creek Watershed Society might not exist today. He even recruited his wife, Lilian to join the Society, and they are a solid fixture at meetings and events. Thank you Earl!

As always the city put on a lovely evening full of great food, fun environment-themed trivia, and there were lots of special guests and raffle prizes.

A big THANK YOU to Ed Paulino for taking these photos to capture our night.
See MORE PHOTOS on our Facebook album.

The two Hoy-Scott Watershed Society tables 9 and 10. (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society releases surplus salmon fry

A Hoy-Scott Watershed Society volunteer releases surplus coho fry into upper Scott Creek (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

In May 2016, we had approximately 19,000 coho fry at Hoy Creek Hatchery.  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 the Upper Hoy and Scott Creeks to areas of the stream where wild fry are not present. In addition, fry are released to Pinnacle Pond. 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.

On May 23rd, HSWS volunteers (Rodney, Chris F, Alex, Dulce & Ed) weighed and counted out our surplus and loaded up the truck for transport and released them at 5 different locations.  The fry weighed approximately 1.3 grams and were about 5 months old.

Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee looks over his son releasing surplus salmon into the creek on May 23rd in Coquitlam.  (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

While at these release sites, we observed some larger trout with the smallest being 4-5" and the largest 6-7" but no small fry were present. We also saw a black bear.

The locations we released the surplus coho fry to on Monday, May 23rd were:

Upper Hoy - Camelback Ct off of Plateau; Upper Scott - Panorama by Bramblewood; Upper Hoy - by Plateau Village at Johnson and Plateau; Upper Scott - Hydro pond at the top of Eagle Mountain Drive; and Pinnacle Pond.

Dulce releases surplus salmon into Scott Creek(Photo: Ed Paulino)

Once our remaining fry grow to 2 -3 grams they will be ready for marking, and will have their adipose fins clipped to identify them as hatchery fish. Our hatchery fry continue to be hand fed twice per day.

See MORE PHOTOS from the release on our Facebook album.

This healthy looking black bear was spotted by our team beside Pinnacle Pond, Coquitlam (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society Elects New Executive Board

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society held our annual general meeting on Wednesday, May 18th at the Coquitlam library.

Elections took place and nominations for president, vice-president, secretary, and directors were put forth.

We are pleased to announce our new executive board:

President - Robbin Whachell
Vice President - Rodney Lee
Secretary - Emily Rossi
Directors:  Nathen Blower, Chris Hamming and Shannon Kyne.

Our Treasurer position was not up and is held by Kyle Uno.

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.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society Exhibits at Scouts Jamboree

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HSWS volunteer, Nathen explains the life cycle of the salmon to local scouts (Photo: Ed Paulino)

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society volunteers were out atthe Jamboree On The Trail (JOTT) event on Saturday, May 14th held at Belcarra Park for the Scouting Community in the Tri-City area.

The Society hosted a station and exhibit featuring information on the life-cycle of the salmon, the work the society does in the watershed, as well as exhibited coho fry and lamprey and other crustaceans found in the creeks.

Approximately 600 youth and adults with some 30 volunteers from Scouts Canada, 40th Baden-Powell Guild, Metro Parks, Coquitlam River Watch, Geocaching BC, ASBC and LNT with NOLS certified instructors attend.

See more of our photos on Facebook HERE.

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HSWS volunteer, Dulce stands behind the exhibit of crustaceans (in tanks) found in Hoy Creek.  (Photo: Ed Paulino)

Rearing Pond clean out for 2016

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McCrae's Environmental Services clearing out the Rearing Pond area

After we bid farewell to our coho smolts at "Salmon Leave Home" we do a full clean out of the rearing pond to be ready for the new brood transfer from the Capilano Trough.

Each year we find crustaceans and a few coho or trout lingering behind. They all get moved to Hoy Creek.

After our society volunteers do their review, then the city brings in McCrae's Environmental Services to clean up the last bit.

Some coho smolts who were still in the pond, were moved to Hoy Creek

SEE MORE Photos here on Facebook.

Hoy-Scott Watershed volunteers go through the remaining water and mud to find anything alive that can be transferred to Hoy Creek before the final clean out of our Rearing Pond.

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A lamprey found in the Rearing Pond

Record attendance at our Salmon Leave Home event

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Honourary guests from Kwikwetlem First Nation, Ed Hall, Councillor and elder Beverley Mrockowski speak at the opening of Salmon Leave Home on May 1st (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

On a beautiful spring day, May 1st,  the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) held our annual Salmon Leave Home event at the Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam with record attendance. Our lineups to collect fish in our rearing pond went past the hatchery building at peek times of the day, and we had to open up a second release point on the creek to keep things flowing.  

Honourary guests were Kwikwetlem First Nation councillor Ed Hall, and elder Beverley Mrockowski who both spoke at a brief opening ceremony, and then released the first coho smolts into Hoy Creek.

"Kwikwetlem means 'red fish up the river'," said Ed Hall who spoke of his elders sharing stories of when the local creeks and rivers were teaming with salmon.  "It's a rare opportunity to see fish leave their local habitat and return."

It was an extra-special day as HSWS honoured one of our own, as Len Meneghello, who recently retired was celebrated after giving 12 years of service to the Society.

Kwikwetlem councillor, Ed Hall releases some of the first salmon on May 1st at Hoy Creek during Salmon Leave Home.

The Society was pleased to welcome a group of Coquitlam's newest Syrian immigrant children attending with Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart, and councillor Teri Towner. They participated in the salmon release and learned how to build bird boxes and bee houses.  

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Councillor Teri Towner (back left), new immigrant Mohammed Kurdi (back middle) and Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart (back right) attended with newly settled Syrian immigrant children. (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

The society wishes to thank the community for their interest and support.  Special thanks goes out to Kwikwetlem First Nation, CKPM 98.7 Tri-City Radio; Pinetree Secondary School, Sustainable Youth Canada, Coquitlam Farmer's Market Society, and Rocky Point Ice Cream.

ALL of our photos from the event can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, 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. They are actively involved in watershed restoration, public awareness, education and preservation.  If you would like to become a volunteer, please let us know HERE.

Listen to councillor Ed Hall speak at the opening ceremony.

A great time was had by all!  Thanks to all our amazing volunteers!

Long-serving member, Len Meneghello honoured by Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee presents Len Meneghello with a certificate of appreciation for his service to the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society. (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

This year's Salmon Leave Home was the perfect opportunity to invite long-serving member, Len Meneghello, who recently hung up his hip-waders to come out and enjoy the day with former colleagues on May 1st at the Hoy Creek Hatchery.

After the event was officially open with words and a ceremonial salmon release by members of Kwikwetlem First Nation, society members surprised Len with a special tribute and presentation which took place by the concrete salmon adjacent to the creek.

Society director, Robbin Whachell read a tribute written by long-standing member and salmon educator Chris Hamming; and hatchery manager, Rodney Lee presented Len with a certificate of appreciation.  HSWS member, Lilian Elliott presented a metal salmon gift from the society. It was perfect that Len's wife Donna and his two children, Martin and Tricia Lynn were also present.

The society takes this opportunity to wish Len the best on his retirement!

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Honouring Len!  From left to right: Ed Hall, Earl Elliott, Beverley Mrockowski, Lilian Elliott, Donna Meneghello, Tricia Lynn Meneghello, Len Meneghello, Martin Meneghello, and Rodney Lee. 
 

A tribute for Len, written by Chris Hamming:

Len has been a community volunteer for many years. After having been a volunteer driver for elderly patients, Len joined the Hoy/Scott Creek Watershed Society. Len was gung-ho, participating in all the activities of the group.

Weekly, without fail, he would be feeding the fry and cleaning in and around the pond. You could count on Len when there was trail work to be done. Removing invasive species and replanting with native species was no problem for Len. With great enthusiasm, he helped with the major public events Salmon Leave Home in the spring and Salmon Come Home in the fall. Early in the morning of the day of the event, he would cheerfully set up the event signs in the neighbourhood and take them down again at the end of the day-no sweat. He would supply the volunteers with cream/sugar/coffee.

If things were broken, Len would be the first to try to fix it. As a no-nonsense guy, his manner was straight forward and to the point.

There is a great legacy at the creek, close to the hatchery building, that has Len’s stamp on it - the Salmon Statue. It took a great deal of planning, maneuvering, leveling and adjusting skill to get the mold to be set up just so. Len's practical knowledge and directing was of great help. There was only one thing that Len did not like, that was attending meetings. Len is a man of action. Len, you are going to be missed!

See more photos of our Salmon Leave Home event.

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Left to right: Ed Hall, Councillor, Kwikwetlem First Nation; Len Meneghello, honoured reitiree of HSWS; and Beverley Mrockowski, Elder, Kwikwetlem First Nation (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Salmon Leave Home featured on Shaw TV

A big THANKS to Shaw TV Vancouver who came out in March to film for their "Around Town" segment, which will be promoting our upcoming #SalmonLeaveHome event! Click the above image / arrow to watch it.

Seen here is Hoy-Scott Watershed director and PR coordinator, Robbin Whachell with Jim Price, Producer, "Around Town" for Shaw TV. The segment is airing on Shaw for two weeks leading up to the event.

For more information on our Salmon Leave Home event set for Sunday, May 1st check out our Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/910777229039505/

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Shaw TV on location at Hoy Creek Hatchery with Robbin Whachell / HSWS director. (Photo: Keith Kozak/ HSWS)

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Hoy-Scott Watershed director and PR coordinator, Robbin Whachell with Jim Price, Producer, "Around Town" for Shaw TV (Photo: Keith Kozak / HSWS)