In Memory of Dulce Paulino

Dulce helping with invasive plant removal at Hoy Creek in 2015

In October our society lost a valued member and dear friend. Dulce Paulino had been serving Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) for over 2 years, and was always there to lend a hand. She was involved in salmon feeding, hatchery maintenance, fin clipping, riparian work along Hoy and Scott Creeks, trail and stream cleaning, as well as representing our society at public events. She also took the Streamkeepers certification training course offered by the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation.

"Dulce loved the hatchery and her work with the Society," said hatchery manager Rodney Lee. "She was one of the warmest, kindest people that I know of and I will miss her enthusiasm as part of our group.  She always wanted to get involved regardless of how she was feeling.  She told me it was always 'better than staying at home.'  Weed pull - Dulce was there.  Fin clipping - she was there too.  In the few years she had been with the group, she participated - feeding, staffing our booth at events, stream keeper's course.  It didn't matter.  And to wrap up each event 'okay, it's time for a picture!' Dulce would say.  Her willful spirit will live on among us."

Dulce representing HSWS with colleagues Malcolm and Kyle at the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival in 2015.

"Dulce was always great at remembering to take photos of our activities," said HSWS president Robbin Whachell. "She was also very proud of her husband Ed's photography and would send us his photos for use on our website, posters and banners, and our Facebook page. Thanks to Dulce we have been able to document much of our efforts."

"Dulce was always willing to help out for any event, especially the weed pulls and the stream cleanups ," said HSWS treasurer Kyle Uno. "I will always remember how proud she was of her son Daniel.

Dulce during our Scott Creek cleanup in 2015.

"Dulce always struck me as a positive person.  She never hesitated to volunteer for anything, and was always smiling," said HSWS director Chris Hamming.

Dulce Lagdameo Paulino was born June 8, 1961 in Quezon City, Philippines. Her Celebration of Lifewas held on October 28th at the St. Claire Assisi Parish in Coquitlam.  The program booklet said, "As a volunteer, Dulce loved nature and enjoyed helping in the community and in her church and in any type of organization where her service was welcomed. She was a selfless woman who dedicated her life to doing charity work..."

The Society extends our condolences to Dulce's family, in particular to Ed, Monique and Daniel.

Dulce clearing garbage from Hoy Creek.

We thank Dulce for her years of service to our Society. She will be greatly missed.

A Book of Memories for Dulce was set up by her family for people to offer condolences and can be viewed HERE.

Dulce with the Coquitlam Bear during the City of Coquitlam's Environment Awards in 2015.

HSWS featured in Tri-City News 'Saving our Salmon' (SOS) series

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Thank you for your support, Tri-City News!

The Hoy-Scott Watershed Society was quoted in the The Tri-City News on November 16th, 2016, along with other stewardship groups, on how we can all do our part in protecting wild salmon.

"Get to know your watershed. Salmon and their habitat can’t protect themselves - we need to care and advocate for both. Visit a stream, talk to your local stewardship group, and view the fish and habitat. Understand the issues. Monitor and report suspicious activity." - HSWS

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Part 1

We were also featured on November 19th through a site visit by reporter Sarah Payne. Both HSWS president, Robbin Whachell, and vice president and hatchery manager, Rodney Lee were interviewed for the article.

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Chum salmon program now underway at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Department of Fisheries reps led by Scott Ducharme (right) lead HSWS members through a chum egg take on October 26th at Hoy Creek Hatchery. 

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society began incubating chum eggs in October and November.  The Society had only been raising coho salmon for the past twenty-years or so.  The addition of chum was made possible through the generous support of the Pacific Salmon Foundation enabling us to purchase and install a new incubation stack and piping for our Capilano trough room. Thanks also to the DFO and City of Coquitlam.

The hatchery has not raised chum since the mid 1990s and applied to do so again in 2015.

"Most of the chum eggs are now eyed and doing great. We had a poor survival rate in 2 of the trays, but the remainder looked good," said hatchery manager Rodney Lee. Coho egg-takes are our next focus and are now underway.

The new chum egg incubation stack is now incubating over 36,000 eggs.  Thanks to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, DFO and the City of Coquitlam for contributions to complete the project.

In the videos below, eggs from 4 chum salmon are fertilized by hand at Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam. Guided by Scott Ducharme of the DFO.  See MORE PHOTOS on our Facebook page.

Excellent chum return for Salmon Come Home 2016

Left to right: Maurice Coulter-Boisvert, DFO; Caresse Selk, City of Coquitlam; Ed Hall, Kwikwetlem First Nation; Beverley Mrockowski, Kwikwetlem First Nation; and Rodney Lee, Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (Photo: Robbin Whachell /HSWS)

Hoy Creek was teaming with chum salmon during the annual signature event for both Hoy-Scott Watershed Society and the City of Coquitlam, as residents of the tri-cities came out to enjoy a day in nature and learn from many local environmental groups at the Salmon Come Home festival. The rain held off and children and adults were delighted to witness the jumping and spawning salmon traveling up the creek. 

Opening words were offered by special guests, Kwikwetlem First Nation Councillor Ed Hall, and Elder Beverley Mrockowski.  Also providing words of welcome was Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart. Society volunteers held several live salmon demonstrations where Department of Fisheries community advisor for Lower Fraser Salmon Enhancement Program, Maurice Coulter-Boisvert, offered commentary and answered questions. Salmon educator and founding HSWS member, Chris Hamming kept children active and busy by the rearing pond learning about the salmon and its life cycle.

AJ, a volunteer with Hoy-Scott Watershed Society shows the underside of a chum salmon while Maurice from the DFO commentates. (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

Angela Brown and her nylon circus was enjoyed by little ones as they dressed up their parents and paraded through the festival grounds. The Creative Café and guest artists, Elaina Buenaventura, Etienne Siew, and Alana Crockett provided continuous musical entertainment and Spirit Bear Coffee was served.

Hosted by the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, and the City of Coquitlam who had their Bad Seed/Urban Forestry; Park Spark; Solid Waste and Recycling; and Water Conservation Departments out, other exhibitors included: Articipation; BC Salmon Marketing Council; Burke Mountain Naturalists; Coexisting with Coyotes; Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable; Coquitlam Riverwatch; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC; Kintec; Maple Creek Streamkeepers; and Port Moody Ecological Society.

Residents gather along Hoy Creek to view the return and spawning of chum salmon at Salmon Leave Home on October 23rd.  (Photo: Robbin Whachell / HSWS)

VIEW MORE Photos on our Facebook album HERE.

Click < arrows > to scroll through photos below...

Enjoy a video overview BELOW of the day's activates courtesy of the Tri-Cities Community TV.

Kwikwetlem councillor Ed Hall speaks at Salmon Come Home 2016

Kwikwetlem First Nation Councillor Ed Hall returned for our event Salmon Come Home held in conjunction with the City of Coquitlam, after visiting us earlier in 2016 for a blessing of the salmon at Salmon Leave Home last May. 

This year's Salmon Come Home was held on October 23rd to a great return of chum salmon visibly swimming through, spawning, and dying in Hoy Creek. Read more about the event HERE.

Councillor Hall was accompanied by First Nation Elder, Beverley Mrockowski.

It is always an honour to include Kwikwetlem First Nation at our events.  The name Kwikwetlem means "red fish up the river." Words were offered standing on the bridge adjacent to the Hoy Creek Hatchery overlooking the spawning salmon.

Listen as Councillor Hall welcomes the salmon (and guests) to the ancestral unceded lands of the Kwikwetlem people.

Salmon Come Home returns to Coquitlam on Sunday, October 23rd

Hoy-Scott Watershed volunteer Kyle Uno holds up a chum salmon for others to see at Salmon Come Home 2015.  (Photo: Ed Paulino / HSWS)

The salmon are coming!  Join the City of Coquitlam and the Hoy-Scott Creek Watershed Society to celebrate the return of the salmon to Hoy Creek at the annual Salmon Come Home at Hoy Creek Hatchery on Sunday, October 23rd from 11 am to 3 pm. Bring your family and friends to participate in this exciting community event which attracts thousands of people to view spawning chum salmon in-stream, and learn about this amazing fish through educational demonstrations and displays.

Enjoy music, children's crafts, costume parade and story telling with Angela Brown, prize fish pond, face painting,  music by CKPM FM 98.7 The Point, and the Creative Café and guest artists will be serving up fun and Spirit Bear Coffee.

The free, family event runs rain or shine and provides a great opportunity to learn about the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society's salmon enhancement program, as well as the work of many other local stewardship groups who attend.

Hosted by the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, and the City of Coquitlam who will have their Bad Seed/Urban Forestry; Park Spark; Solid Waste and Recycling; and Water Conservation Departments out. Other participants include Articipation; BC Salmon Marketing Council; Burke Mountain Naturalists; Coexisting with Coyotes; Coquitlam River Watershed Roundtable; Coquitlam Riverwatch; Fisheries and Oceans Canada; Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC; Kintec; Maple Creek Streamkeepers; Port Moody Ecological Society; and Kwikwetlem First Nation.

Hoy Creek Hatchery is located off of Princess Crescent, west of the City Centre Aquatic Complex and the Pinetree Community Centre in Coquitlam.  Parking is available at City Hall or at Douglas College David Lam Campus where you can enjoy a short walk inland to the hatchery via Hoy Creek Trail. To find the exact location simply Google "Hoy Creek Hatchery."

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society has been in operation since 2002 and is a volunteer run society that operates a small salmon hatchery, and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, with technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  The Society also works to restore and maintain the riparian habitat in the watershed by removing invasive plant species and re-planting with native plant species. Learn more about the Society at hoyscottcreeks.org

Salmon Come Home is environmentally-themed and designed to promote public awareness about conservation and spawning salmon that migrate back to Coquitlam. For more information on Salmon Come Home, please visit coquitlam.ca/enviroevents

Vancity Port Coquitlam supports upcoming Salmon Come Home festival

From left to right: Andy Leong CFP, Vancity Branch Business Account Manager; Robbin Whachell, President, HSWS; Kyle Uno, Treasurer HSWS; and Omar Ganief, Assistant Branch Manager, Vancity Pinetree Community Branch.

On October 1st, 2016, Vancity Port Coquitlam presented a $500 checque to the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society for the upcoming Salmon Come Home festival which will take place on Sunday, October 23rd from 11am to 3pm at the Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam.

“Vancity is happy to support Hoy-Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) with their annual Salmon Come Home event.  At Vancity, we make you Good Money, by putting money to good," said Omar Ganief, Assistant Branch Manager.

"This donation will go a long way toward ensuring our event is enjoyed by the community," said Robbin Whachell, HSWS president. "We are truly grateful for the support of Vancity again this year!"

Salmon Come Home is an annual family fun festival and is hosted by the City of Coquitlam and the Society and attracts thousands of people who come out to view spawning chum salmon in-stream, and learn about this amazing fish through educational demonstrationsand displays.

Enjoy music, children's crafts, costume parade and story telling with Angela Brown, prize fish pond, face painting,  music by CKPM FM 98.7 The Point, and the Creative Café and guest artists will be serving up fun and Spirit Bear Coffee.

The free, family event runs rain or shine and provides a great opportunity to learn about the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society's salmon enhancement program, as well as the work of many other local stewardship groups who attend.

Hoy Creek Hatchery is located off of Princess Crescent, west of the City Centre Aquatic Complex and the Pinetree Community Centre in Coquitlam.  Parking is available at City Hall or at Douglas College David Lam Campus where you can enjoy a short walk inland to the hatchery via Hoy Creek Trail. To find the exact location simply Google "Hoy Creek Hatchery."

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has been in operation since 2002 and is a volunteer run society that operates a small salmon hatchery, and conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, with technical expertise from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  The Society also works to restore and maintain the riparian habitat in the watershed by removing invasive plant species and re-planting with native plant species. Learn more about the Society at hoyscottcreeks.org

Salmon Come Home is environmentally-themed and designed to promote public awareness about conservation and spawning salmon that migrate back to Coquitlam. For more information on Salmon Come Home, please visit coquitlam.ca/enviroevents
 

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/

Hatchery Manager Internship / Assistant Hatchery Manager Position Available

Hoy Creek Hatchery is located east of Douglas College David Lam campus in Coquitlam, along Hoy Trail.

Hoy-Scott Watershed Society in Coquitlam, B.C. has an internship opening for a fish hatchery manager.

The individual will work with current hatchery manager, Rodney Lee as an assistant in managing the hatchery. No previous experience is needed.  This role will act as the manager's backup, and will train in all aspects of managing the hatchery including brood stock collection, egg takes, equipment operation and maintenance, egg incubation and caring for the alevins and fry. 

Interested persons should provide a brief essay stating your interest, previous experience (if any) and why you'd like this role. 

Time commitment: Late September to end June.  Hours vary but would typically require at least 3 hours every Saturday morning through the season.  This commitment will coincide with our season where we capture broodstock all the way through until the fry are marked (adipose clipped) and can be transferred across to the rearing pond.  The commitment ends with season ending equipment cleaning.

Communication: Needs to be available by cell phone and text message as a primary means of communication.  Email is secondary.

What will the intern do?:
- Learn how the hatchery operates
- Learn how to start-up and maintain equipment
- Learn about salmon and primarily the 2 species we will be incubating - Chum and Coho
- Learn about and conduct the egg take and fertilization process.
- Learn about and maintain biosecurity protocol for the facility.
- Assist with weekly and season maintenance activities
- Assist with the care and feeding of all generations of fish
- Assist with fish length and weight sampling including started fish health calculations
- Assist with taking water quality measurements
- Assist with operation of the rearing pond including the operation of the lower pond and outlet weir.
- Learn about aquaculture in the context of the Salmon Enhancement Program through Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
- Assist with planning and execution of fish marking (adipose clipping).
- Assist with transport and release of surplus Coho fry to Upper Hoy and Upper Scott if necessary.
- Help with riparian restoration by removing invasive plants (maintain sites that have been recently restored) - optional.
- Assist at our public events: Salmon Come Home (October); Salmon Leave Home (May)
- Act as the backup for Rodney in terms of managing the hatchery once trained.

Please email Rodney Lee with questions or to state your interest in this role: rodneyclee@gmail.com

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.  Learn more at our website: hoyscottcreeks.org

Barred owls observe Himalayan blackberry cull at Hoy Creek

Two barred owls along Hoy Trail in Coquitlam, BC, Canada (Photo: Ed Paulino)

On August 23rd, volunteer members of Hoy-Scott Watershed Society joined members of the City of Coquitlam parks team to clear invasive Himalayan Blackberry at Hoy Creek in one area north of the Hoy Creek Hatchery. The blackberry had grown over a fallen log and was so thick it was blocking the creek.

With the anticipated salmon return in October we worked for approximately 4 hours to remove the invasive from that section of the riparian area. 

Rodney shows the area that has blocked Hoy Creek (Photo: Robbin Whachell)

We had an unexpected guests! Two barred owls were observed first in the high trees watching us. One of the owls flew down to a branch hanging over the water, and continued to obverse us, not bothered by our talking and noise. The one owl then dropped to the water and began bathing itself. We were able to capture this video.

Later in the week, other members of our society spotted the barred owl couple closer to the hatchery. (CLICK IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH VIDEO)

Work removing large swaths of blackberry. The roots were also dug out after (Photo: Robbin Whachell)

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