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.

Coho Fry Fin Clip Held at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Anne points to the adipose fin.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada supported Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam for our annual fin clip on June 23. The Coho salmon are approximately 3 months old.

The adipose fin is removed and is a soft, fleshy fin found on the top of the salmon, on the back behind the dorsal fin and just forward of the caudal fin. This marking of our coho supports:

Stock assessment for when salmon return to spawn, the clipped fins allow hatcheries and stream keepers to monitor their return. Selective fisheries - in certain regions and sub-areas, a marked fishery is permitted for the retention of the coho. The procedure also allows for a manual fish count, whereas previously only weight sample counts took place.

HSWS president, Kyle counts the fish he’s marked with a clicker, as Anne carefully clips the adipose fin.

The operation was overseen by DFO fisheries community advisor, Isaac Nelson and Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard. Assisting Isaac from the DFO was Eric Kukulowicz. Volunteers of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society assisted. Approximately 8,200 fish were marked.

First, the fish are anesthetized in small batches. Once in the solution, they become sleepy within minutes. The volunteers stand ready around a table equipped with a trough with flowing water and beds of water for the fish to lay in. Volunteers work quickly and very carefully to clip fins with disinfected surgical scissors before they wake up, which is within about a minute. Fish are put into the outside trough and end up in the bucket at the end of the table. They are returned to the hatchery to recover.

The fish will soon be transferred from the hatchery Capilano trough room and will live in the rearing pond until Salmon Leave Home in May 2024. Fish from this brood could then return in about 1.5–2.5 years.

HSWS director, Matt distributes anesthetized fish into trays, as Thomas and Rodney clip.

Thanks to all our Society members who helped out this year, as well as to the public to stopped in to observe and ask questions!

See more photos in our Facebook photo album.

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!

Rearing Pond Invertebrate Salvage

Mucky business, but good fun making discoveries!

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society conducted the annual rearing pond salvage on May 31.

Coho smolts were released on May 14. The water drained from the pond leaves lots of discoveries for invertebrates and crustaceans like crayfish, stoneflies and lamprey for discovery. We found crayfish, juvenile lamprey, coho fry, and caddis fly. All were released into the stream.

Thanks to our volunteers who helped out. Interesting was the shared relevant knowledge and experiences related to the activity expressed by participants!

Floorboards over the pond were first removed. After the salvage, the City of Coquitlam arranges for the pond mud and sediment to be removed via McCrae's Environmental Services (a vacuum truck), and then the pond will be pressure washed by the Society, floorboards returned, and then the creek water is reintroduced.

A very large crayfish! It was returned to Hoy Creek.

Later this month, the rearing pond will then be ready for the next coho brood to be transferred from the hatchery to live there until May 2024.

Founding Member Acknowledged at Salmon Leave Home

Founding member and the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society’s first president was acknowledged at Salmon Leave Home on May 14, 2023. From left to right: Fin Donnelly, MLA; HSWS president, Kyle Uno; and founding member, Keith Kozak holding his certificate of acknowledgement.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was formed and registered in 2002 with a mandate to promote watershed restoration and help raise awareness of our shared responsibility for the care of the creek and its surrounding habitat. Founding members who signed the Society document were: Keith Kozak, Linda Gorsline, Chris Hamming, Andrea Tubbs, and Shawn Tubbs.

Twenty-one years later, on May 14, 2023, during the Society’s Salmon Leave Home festival, Keith Kozak was honoured for his major contribution. Setting up a society from nothing is an arduous task and we’re grateful for the time and commitment put in by our founding members.

Keith was the Society's first president. So much goes into the operations of a society, and Keith put in countless hours leading stream cleans, tree planting, salmon rearing, and time networking with the City, DFO, and environmental groups, as well as checking that area developers were ensuring the safety of the salmon.

Keith speaks about the formation of the Society and the work of the group in educating the public on the sensitivity of the habitat, as well as ensuring the return of Coho and Chum salmon to Hoy Creek.

Keith was acknowledged and thanked by the current president, Kyle Uno. “We would not be here today without your efforts. As a token of our appreciation, we present you with this certificate and gift.”

This photo was featured on the cover of The Tri-City News. Seen left is Keith Kozak, holding a Coho salmon, as a family looks on on the shore of Hoy Creek, Coquitlam.


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.



Society attends Coquitlam Earth Day event

Alex, Tyler, Matt and Thomas of Hoy/Scott Watershed Society

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society took part in a City of Coquitlam Earth Day event on April 22 at Town Centre Park, adjacent to the Inspiration Garden.

A big part of what we do is public education and bringing awareness to the local environment and to the fact that we have salmon-bearing streams in the midst of an urban setting.

The event provided an opportune occasion to highlight the challenges the Society faces, most often caused by man. Things like trash along the trails and in the streams, pollutants being dumped down storm drains, as well as natural challenges like invasive species.

Five-month-old coho fry were also on display providing a glimpse of how precious and fragile this species can be.

The Society would like to thank all of our volunteers who took part and answered questions from the public.

Left to right: Fin Donnelly, MLA, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain; Tyler Storgaard, Hatchery Manager; Matt Djonlic, Coquitlam Councillor; Maya Uno, HSWS volunteer; and Thomas, HSWS volunteer.



Juvenile Trapping Exercise Conducted in Hoy Creek

Hannah and Aiden set the traps in Hoy Creek.

Juvenile trapping involves baiting gee minnow traps and having them soak overnight in various locations in the creek to survey what’s present in those locations. A trapping activity can provide an understanding of:

  • What types of fish are present in the creek?

  • How big are the fish?

  • Are they hatchery-raised fish or wild fish?

  • Where do hatchery released Coho end up?

  • Where are these fish located?

  • What areas of the creek do they use?

  • How healthy do the fish appear?

Outside of some limited gee trapping to remove fish from the lower pond prior to sediment removal, this may have been the first series of juvenile trapping conducted by the Society.

The process started back in February with the application to the Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) for a scientific license to trap for fish. The Society was issued a permit in March however the unstable weather conditions through much of March and April prevented us from getting out and trapping earlier.

The time of year that trapping is conducted is important as different times of year have different life stages for fish. For example, when trapping in April, we wouldn’t expect to see Chum fry present but would expect to see Coho fry as well as Coho parr/pre-smolts. As we get to the summer months, June through August, we might start to see trout fry (Cutthroat, Rainbow). Trout parr could be observed throughout the year.

The last weekend in April finally presented suitable weather conditions for us to trap. At the suggestion of Connie Boulos, Maple Creek Streamkeepers, we used salmon-flavoured wet cat food for our bait balls (tied up with cheesecloth). The Maple Creek Streamkeepers have conducted many years of juvenile trapping to understand what’s present in Maple Creek.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society members, Rodney, Hannah and Aiden set traps on Friday night. Locations were selected that were deep enough to fully submerge the trap as well as have slow water to prevent fish from getting trapped, exhausted and die because of water that is too fast and fish being held too long.

Then, Hannah and Rodney retrieved the traps on Saturday night and gathered data on what was captured including species identification, length, and, in the case of Coho, hatchery or wild.

Overall observations: A few beautiful cutthroat trout parr were encountered in the fish trap pool behind the fire hall. At all other trapping locations, we encountered wild Coho parr/pre-smolts that appeared good and healthy.

When trapping is conducted year over year, it can be used to get a profile of the fish present – year-over-year, helping us observe changes in the # of fish encountered, the health of fish, and trends in the size of fish encountered. This data will become part of the data record for Hoy and Scott Creeks and could be used in the future to understand the trends in fish population ranges, sizes and health.

This was only the first trapping session in the season. Added sessions are planned:

  1. to trap the upper reaches of Hoy and Scott creeks prior to any hatchery fry releases as well as prior to smolt out-migration to see if any of the previously released hatchery fry were still present as pre-smolts in the release locations;

  2. re-trap the existing areas to see what new species are encountered as the season progresses.

  3. and also, to understand the prevalence of any wild fish present in those locations.