creeks

Fish Kill in Hoy Creek South of Lasalle Place

Photo of water at the bridge adjacent to the hatchery around 10:30 a.m., taken by a hatchery volunteer.

A milky substance was observed in Hoy Creek and was reported to the City of Coquitlam the morning of Tuesday, May 11.  

The City provided the following report:

”An investigation and cleanup work was carried out throughout the day to prevent further impacts to the creek. There was also an earlier incident of a surcharging sewer manhole that also impacted the creek on the same day.

 At around 8:30 a.m., a sewer manhole was surcharging at Erskine and Brewster.  A vactor truck was sent to the site to flush and clean up the area.  Around the same time, a report was received regarding a brown, odorous sludge seen in Hoy Creek west of White Pine Place. Engineering staff checked this site shortly after but the creek was running clear by the time they arrived.

 At around 10:30 a.m. the City received another report regarding Hoy Creek. A member of the public advised that the water near the hatchery looked milky. Engineering staff inspected the creek from the aquatic complex (CCAC) downstream past the hatchery and observed the creek by the hatchery having a milky colour, but downstream the creek was running clear.  They also noted that the fish in the creek were swimming about and did not look like they were impacted. 

Further inspection was conducted downstream nearest the south end of Lasalle Place where staff identified a soapy substance at an outfall and observed about 15–20 small dead fish in a tributary of the creek.  They tried to trace the source upstream and noticed a strong acidic smell in one of the manholes, so they flushed out the storm main in that area to ensure that the acidic smelling substance did not continue to impact the creek.  It was not clear to the attending staff whether this fish kill incident near the south end of Lasalle Place was related to the reported milky substance by the hatchery, and the investigative and cleanup work concluded at around 4 p.m.”

Please be mindful – everything entering a storm drain ends up in a creek. Creeks contain aquatic life that can’t survive pollution being dumped into the habitat. As members of the public, we all have a duty to steward and protect the environment that we live in. Should you witness any suspected pollution being dumped into a storm drain, please take immediate action to report it to the authorities:

  • City of Coquitlam Engineering 24 hour emergency (Municipal): 604-927-3500

  • Observe, Record, Report (Federal): 1-800-465-4336

  • Report all poachers and polluters (Provincial): 1-877-952-RAPP

CLICK HERE TO READ HOME TIPS FOR HEALTHY STREAMS

Storm-drain-Coquitlam.jpg

Volunteers clear trash from Hoy and Scott Creeks at Aberdeen Avenue

Fast food containers were the most common trash items collected.

Our annual summer stream clean was held on Aug. 29 and Sept. 5 and was focussed on Aberdeen Avenue, an area not necessarily noted for close proximity to nature due to it being an industrial area.

in fact, this busy street in Coquitlam has two streams running below it. Both Scott and Hoy Creeks flow under this avenue and converge where the SkyTrain crosses over just south of Aberdeen. Once the two streams converge, they eventually meet the Coquitlam River before joining the Fraser River. The Fraser River flows into the Straight of Georgia (Pacific Ocean), a total distance of 78 km.

In preparation for the work, the Society provided notice to the surrounding businesses. The notice also served to remind on the delicate ecosystem along the street which is often seen dotted with semi-trucks making pickups or deliveries.

View our photo album on Facebook.

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteers gearing up at the start of the day on Aberdeen Ave.

“Each year we focus on one area of Scott or Hoy Creek as a summer activity,” said Society president, Robbin Whachell. “It’s important that we do this work in the late summer as not to disturb salmon in the creeks. This year, our vice-president, Tyler Storgaard scouted several areas and we agreed this industrial business location would be optimal as we’d not focused work in this area before, and the streets were not marked with storm drain fish decals.”

In less than three hours on each day, the work of HSWS volunteers was evident by the piles of trash removed from the banks of both Scott and Hoy Creeks and along the street between the two streams.

Kim clearing an area that appeared to be frequented as a lunch and/or smoke-break spot by local workers.

“We also cut back the invasive blackberry, which often grows over and hides the stream,” said Whachell. “We hope that less littering will take place if people see that the creek is just right there, a few meters from where they walk past.”

Some of the most common items picked up during the clean were face masks, cigarette packages, fast food and drink containers, bottles and cans, and small plastic bag packaging for earplugs.

Most unusual finds were toys still in good shape, clothing, bedding, footwear, car parts, a dining tabletop and railing.

View our photo album on Facebook.

Items removed from Hoy Creek on Aberdeen Ave.

Lani holds up some of her finds from Scott Creek along Aberdeen Ave.

Lani holds up some of her finds from Scott Creek along Aberdeen Ave.

Ririka pounds down a fish marker near a storm drain while Robbin clears rubbish above Scott Creek on Alberdeen ave.

Ririka pounds down a fish marker near a storm drain while Robbin clears rubbish above Scott Creek on Alberdeen ave.





Tree Planting and Invasive Species Removal Volunteer Opportunities in Coquitlam

The City of Coquitlam has advised of the following volunteer opportunities as it relates to removal of invasive species and native tree planting:

If you are able to volunteer please see the details below:

Sunday, September 18th – blackberry root removal and native tree/shrub planting. Hoy Creek near Johnson Street and Guildford Way

The City is working with the Lower Mainland Green Team to remove the roots of invasive Himalayan Blackberry along the salmon-bearing creek edge. The area will then be planted with native trees and shrubs to restore it to a functional riparian habitat. If you are interested in this event, you can sign up for either the blackberry removal (in the morning) or the native tree/shrub planting (in the afternoon) or both! Please see the links below to sign up.

Blackberry Removal 9:45am - 12:00pm
http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team/events/232900219/

Native tree and shrub planting 12:30pm - 4:00pm
http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team/events/232900479/

Sunday, September 25th, 1pm - 4pm: Native tree and shrub planting. Hoy Creek near Johnson Street and Guildford Way

Through a generous grant from the TD Tree Days program, the City is working with TD to plant over 300 native trees and shrubs along the salmon-bearing creek edge in an area previously covered with invasive Himalayan blackberry. If you are interested in this event, you can sign up for it at the link below.

TD Tree Days Event https://www.tdtreedays.com/en-ca/events/539-hoy-creek-at-guildford#.V8n2Nmf2amR

Saturday, October 15th - blackberry root removal and native tree/shrub planting. Hoy Creek near Guildford Way and Pacific Street

The City is working with the Lower Mainland Green Team to remove the roots of invasive Himalayan Blackberry along the salmon-bearing creek edge. The area will then be planted with native trees and shrubs to restore it to a functional riparian habitat. If you are interested in this event, you can sign up for either the blackberry removal (in the morning) or the native tree/shrub planting (in the afternoon) or both! Please see the links below to sign up.

Blackberry Removal 9:45am - 12:00pm
http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team/events/232900754/

Native tree and shrub planting12: 30pm - 4:00pm http://www.meetup.com/The-Lower-Mainland-Green-Team/events/232900850/