Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada

Salmon Return After Successful Home Coming Event

Isaac Nelson of DFO points out markings on the chum salmon held by HSWS hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard at the Salmon Come Home festival on Oct. 23 (HSWS photo)

Our annual Salmon Come Home event, held in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, took place on October 23, a beautiful cool dry autumn day. The popular community event has grown over the years, along with the forest area around the hatchery, so the event has expanded to include the Douglas College parking area. Salmon Come Home celebrates the life cycle of salmon, which spend their adult lives at sea and then return to the creeks where they hatched to spawn and die.

Thanks to the support of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, live salmon talks were provided each hour during the event, led by Isaac Nelson (DFO) and assisted by hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard. Live chum salmon were brought in from the Coquitlam River, as with the low rainfall, the streams had not risen to provide them passage.

That all changed on October 24, as enough rainfall had occurred to bring the chum salmon home.

A chum salmon jumps in Hoy Creek on Oct. 24 (HSWS photo)

Society members had the 10-month-old coho fry out for viewing adjacent to the rearing pond and visitors learned about the returning species. The hatchery incubation room was also on display.

Families were provided the opportunity to plant spruce seedlings or wildflower seeds in peat pots to take home.

Maple Creek Streamkeepers got people up close to examine a salmon dissection.

Members of Maple Creek Streamkeepers at the salmon dissection table (HSWS photo)

Over at the Douglas College site, live entertainment was provided by Elaina Buenaventura, Etienne Siew, and Erzsi Institorisz. Many other local environmental groups were on site. Other activities include the popular Nylon Zoo and costume parade with Angela Brown, food trucks and an explore nature contest.

Now that the salmon have begun their return, check out our Salmon Spotting Tips. Typically, chum salmon return to local creeks from early October to mid-November and coho from late October to mid-December. Return dates of salmon fluctuate annually based on weather conditions.

Families learn about the salmon species and view coho fry outside the rearing pond at Hoy Creek Hatchery (HSWS photo)

A beautiful fall day for Salmon Come Home on Oct. 23 at Hoy Creek Hatchery (HSWS Photo)

Chum salmon eggs incubating at Hoy Creek Hatchery after two-year lull

Photo: HSWS on Oct. 31 (HSWS Photo)

Last weekend we had a successful couple of days reaching our Chum salmon broodstock quota thanks to hard-working volunteers and with the added help of the Department of Fisheries & Oceans crew who were out on Monday to conduct a field egg take.

The Hoy Creek Hatchery is currently holding almost 27,000 Chum (as a green egg estimate) and thus we’ve concluded our Chum brood collection.

“Looking ahead we’ll be focusing our efforts on Coho broodstock, and will be seining the fish trap pool,” said hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard. “With the current weather we've been experiencing, we are hopeful to see some fresh coho push in. “

The weekend forecast is calling for clear skies and cooler temps, and this should help for viewing and hopefully catching coho for broodstock. Coho commonly return from late October to mid-December and are not as easy to spot as the chum.

Chum salmon after egg and milt take for broodstock. Fish were returned to the stream. (HSWS Photo)

“We’ve had a huge turnout for viewing this year,” said society president, Robbin Whachell. “We’re receiving emails and phone calls. Last weekend Hoy Trail there was a steady flow of families and people enjoying the fall colours and salmon-spotting. The salmon did not disappoint and this year we have seen a great increase in returning chum compared to the last two years.”

Those coming out to view salmon should be mindful that bears have been spotted for several weeks off and on in the Hoy Creek Linear Park and around the hatchery. The City of Coquitlam has put out a map showing optimal places to view salmon with tips about bears. Go to coquitlam.ca/salmoncomehome.

The Society’s chum salmon program was reintroduced at the hatchery in 2016, thanks to a grant from the Pacific Salmon Foundation in 2015.

Learn more about the salmon we raise HERE. Read our tips for spotting salmon.

Check out other photos and video on our Facebook page.

Eggs being weighed and counted in Hoy Creek Hatchery. (HSWS Photo)

Above, a full grown chum salmon lies dead in Hoy Creek after completing its lifecycle, while the young coho fry swim about. As the body begins to breakdown, its particles will release and nourish other fish life, birds, insects and the riparian area (plants on the banks) of the stream – thus completing a cycle of life.

Grade 12 Volunteers Recognized

Left to right: Steven, Maiya, and Maya

Left to right: Steven, Maiya, and Maya

On July 25, our society recognized the efforts of five of our student volunteers who have been assisting with us for quite some time, one since she was eight years old!

The celebration, organized by Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Lani Lehun took place in front of the hatchery and a handful of other HSWS members came out to salute the following before they start their education in college or university this fall:

  • Maya Uno

  • Steven Wang

  • Leo Li

  • Maiya Callister

  • Calvin Sui

Only three of the students were able to attend as some had already moved away.

What started for most as a way to earn volunteer credit hours at school, has turned into an interest in caring for the environment.

Hatchery manger and HSWS director, Rodney Lee provides comments to the students as HSWS vice president, Tyler Storgaard looks on.

Hatchery manger and HSWS director, Rodney Lee provides comments to the students as HSWS vice president, Tyler Storgaard looks on.

Hatchery manager, Rodney Lee provided the following comments, “Congratulation on high school graduation. It’s a big step to get to this point. But it’s really only the beginning of better things to come.”

“This past season didn’t go fully as expected. I was looking forward to collectively celebrating your graduation and achievements. We came up 3 months short. I will however remember experiences with each one of you that makes me smile or gives me a laugh. Like the work you did at the kid's crafts at our festival, pulling the tangled net through the pool, seeing you handle (or try to handle) adult salmon. “

“You counted bugs, dissected fish carcasses, counted fish, and pulled invasives. These were all good things. As you move on in your lives, I’ll leave you with one thought – as a young adult you may be eager to get to the next thing but as you continue on life’s journey, take a moment to reflect. Enjoy each moment as it occurs. Don’t take anything for granted. Savour each day as it comes because tomorrow can end up being very different from today.“

“It has been my privilege to work with each one of you. I wish you all the success with your future work and studies. And you will always be welcomed out on a Saturday morning!”

The Society would like to thank the Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada for providing merchandise to present with the certificates.

Volunteer grad ceremony on July 25 at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

Volunteer grad ceremony on July 25 at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

See more photos on our Facebook page .

Students interested in volunteering with the society can sign up to volunteer HERE. Saturday work sessions will hopefully recommence in late September.