Way-finding signs helping residents navigate Hoy Creek Linear Park

View fullsize

A newly installed way-finding sign at the junction of Hoy Trail just north of the Guildford Way trail entrance.

Thanks to the City of Coquitlam, making your way around the Hoy Creek Linear Park just got a whole lot easier!

In October trailhead signs were put in place as well as interpretational signs along the trail providing information on the history of the hatchery, the work of our Society and what you can expect to find along the watershed from salmon species to slugs.

Last week, way-finding signs were put in place at trail crossing areas and key locations to help navigate the area.

“Having all the signage in place has been a real bonus, in particular, that we were unable to host our Salmon Come Home event this year,” said Society president, Robbin Whachell. “With such a great return of chum salmon, visitors to the Hoy Creek Linear Park had a lot to see! The signage is a huge asset to the public.”

To celebrate the return of the salmon, the City of Coquitlam has created a map of prime viewing areas around the city as well as a children’s nature scavenger hunt to enjoy in the great outdoors. 

Check out our Salmon-spotting Tips.

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

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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.

View fullsize

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.

Salmon-Spotting Map and Scavenger Hunt Released by City of Coquitlam

Click to open this activity page and download from the City of Coquitlam website.

While the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has cohosted our Salmon Come Home event with the City of Coquitlam for over 25 years, this year will be different. 

Salmon Come Home has been canceled due to pandemic regulations, but we're excited to tell you that it's prime viewing for chum salmon in Hoy and Scott Creeks. Chum salmon started arriving on Thanksgiving weekend.

To celebrate the return of the salmon, the City of Coquitlam has created a map of prime viewing areas around the city as well as a children’s nature scavenger hunt to enjoy in the great outdoors. 

Head out and enjoy the fall colours and all the wonders of nature.

Check out our Salmon-spotting Tips.

Enjoy the salmon-spotting season!

BC Premier Visits Hoy Creek Hatchery

View fullsize

Left to right: Maya Uno, HSWS youth leader; Robbin Whachell, President, HSWS; Fin Donnelly; and John Horgan, BC Premier.

On Oct. 21, during his campaign stop in Coquitlam, Premier John Horgan visited the Hoy Creek Hatchery for a brief tour to learn about the work of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society and see the return of the spawning chum salmon, as well as young salmon being raised at the hatchery.

The premier was accompanied by Fin Donnelly, former official opposition's critic on fisheries and oceans until 2012.

Assisting the president of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, Robbin Whachell was youth leader, May Uno.

This is the first time a premier has visited the hatchery which was built in 1997.

View fullsize

Feeding the coho salmon in the hatchery’s rearing pond at Hoy Creek.

See more photos on our Facebook page

View fullsize

Chum salmon were in stream for the tour.

Chum salmon return to Hoy Creek

Video freeze frame to see a chum salmon making the jump. Often it takes several attempts.

The first chum salmon of the season were spotted in Hoy Creek over the long weekend on Oct. 10 as former hatchery manager, Rodney Lee led a spawner salmon survey in the afternoon and saw five within the hour. On Sunday, Oct 11 another member of the society spotted two salmon jumping the lip below the bridge beside Hoy Creek Hatchery.

After the rains off and on throughout the week, Saturday, Oct. 17 there was a steady show of chum salmon to the delight of volunteers, and those out walking their dogs or enjoying the colourful dry fall day.

Chum salmon are usually seen from early October to mid-November. They are easiest to spot. Coho usually return in late October into December and are harder to spot as they are better at hiding.

Rodney holds up a chum salmon at a previous Salmon Come Home event. No festival will be held this year due to the pandemic, however residents are encouraged to come out and witness the return.

Society volunteers will next work on getting chum broodstock and they’ll be raised from the egg to fry stage before being released back into Hoy Creek. 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.

Check out other photos and video on our Facebook page.

View fullsize

Salmon spotting on Oct. 17

View fullsize

Two chum salmon in Hoy Creek on Oct. 17

New signage for Hoy Creek Linear Park

New interpretational signage by Hoy Creek Hatchery providing information about the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society.

Thanks to the City of Coquitlam for prioritizing the Hoy Creek Linear Park as an area that not only supports the Hoy Creek Hatchery but also gets a lot of foot traffic from those that use the trail to shortcut to Walton Elementary, Douglas College, Pinetree Secondary, or the SkyTrain to name just a few.

The trail supports these connections but is also a beautiful green space for people to get exercise, walk their dogs, or simply unwind and melt into nature.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society had been working with the City discussing updating of the signage but were very surprised as to the end result.

“Not only do we have beautiful trailhead markers so people can now identify entrances to the Hoy Creek Linear Park,” said Society president, Robbin Whachell, “but we love the interpretational signage around the trail closest to the hatchery area and into the deep part of the woods which educate the trail users as to local fauna, fish that live in the stream, forest life, the history of the hatchery, the work of the Society and more.”

New trailhead markers thanks to the City of Coquitlam

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival Visits Hoy Creek Hatchery

View fullsize

Puppeteers exposed and not exposed at the Hoy Creek Hatchery Optimist Rearing Pond on Oct. 3.

City of Coquitlam moved their Kaleidoscope Arts Festival out into the community this year, and Hoy Creek Hatchery was one of the locations for their four community programs on Oct. 3.

Residents experienced arts and culture all taking place at the same time on the same day.

The deck outside the hatchery’s rearing pond was the setting for Stories by the Stream, a story-telling and puppet show with an ecological-theme hosted by J Peachy and friends.

“We really appreciate this opportunity to have our hatchery as a venue,” said the president of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society, Robbin Whachell. “Many people are unaware of our location or of the jewel behind Douglas College, the Hoy Creek Linear Park.”

Stories by the Stream was enjoyed in three pre-registered time-slots, in safe physically-distanced small groups.

View fullsize

Maya Uno, the Society’s youth leader stands near the info booth for participants to learn about the local stream keepers in Coquitlam.

Thank you City of Coquitlam for showcasing our location.

Hoy Creek Hatchery Volunteer Activity Returns

Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard explains procedures to new and returning volunteers in front of the rearing pond at Hoy Creek Hatchery.

After the pandemic shut down most of our volunteer work in the spring of 2020, the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society has sorted out ways to safely get volunteers back to work in small groups in preparation for the 2020 broodstock season.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, Tyler Storgaard began reviewing operational procedures and got new volunteers repairing nets, and cleaning the rearing pond floor, as well as feeding fish.

Rodney Lee has started a spawner survey group which will count salmon in stream once they return. That group is familiarizing themselves with a chosen section of the creek and reviewing their process once the salmon return.

The first Saturday of every month the Society hosts an open house, which provides time for the public to come by, have a tour, and learn about the work of the Society. Robbin Whachell led this area, and several families stopped by, as well as curious walkers who were out enjoying Hoy Trail.

The society is always looking for support from the community, whether you wish to make a donation, or become a volunteer and work hands-on. Learn more HERE.

Youth volunteers repair nets for upcoming broodstock collection.

A youth volunteer clears debris from the bottom of the rearing pond which houses approximately 5000 coho salmon fry.

Volunteers repair nets which are used to catch salmon in stream for broodstock.

Rodney Lee is leading a group who will be involved in an upcoming spawner survey in Hoy Creek.

New Manager Announced for Hoy Creek Hatchery

View fullsize

New hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard standing outside the Hoy Creek Hatchery

In August 2019 the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) put out a notice to solicit for a candidate to train for one year to take on the role of hatchery manager. Candidates would train under Rodney Lee, who has been hatchery manager since 2012

While a handful of people applied, only a few started training and within a month there was only one, Tyler Storgaard, who has now completed a year working under the guidance of Rodney Lee. In September 2020, Rodney officially announced the transfer of the role to Tyler.

Tyler, who was also voted in as the Society’s vice president earlier this year reflects on the reason he applied for the volunteer role, “Having returned to the lower mainland following years of out of town work, this posting was in front of me. Wanting to give back to the community and a resource that is a true passion, the fit seemed right.”

“Shadowing Rodney Lee, the mentorship and knowledge he and the group have provided has been nothing short of remarkable.  Step-by-step and each stage throughout the season, Rodney has been, and still is, an invaluable resource for myself, the Society and the community alike.” 

“This past year has leveraged both profession and passion and further complemented by the diverse team at HSWS.  Looking ahead with society, exciting and new challenges are ahead as we work towards upgrades and ultimately, a new facility,” said Storgaard.

Rodney Lee, who has been an active member since 2008 said, “I have been truly honoured to serve as hatchery manager for the Society. Working with the team has been a lot of fun and has provided me a lot of personal fulfillment. In particular, the sharing of the magic of Pacific salmon with students from nearby schools or visitors from other parts of the Lower Mainland or beyond.”

“Tyler Storgaard has been a wonderful addition to the Society and I have the utmost trust and confidence in his ability to operate the hatchery going forward. He has brought a passion for salmon and a strong desire to give back to the community.”

Society president, Robbin Whachell had this to add, “Tyler hit the ground running, and immediately provided invaluable support and enthusiasm to our group. He’s been instrumental in communicating with the City as a way of ensuring our goals and resources can be met in the years to come. I want to take this occasion to thank Rodney Lee on behalf of the Society for his years of service in this role and his leadership overall. The best news is, is that Rodney is staying on in a director role on our team!”

View fullsize

Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard can be reached at tstorgaard@hotmail.com

Paint Spill in Hoy Creek Sourced to Storm Drain Dumping

Photo taken at approximately 2:30 p.m.

On Thursday, Sept. 24 at approximately 1:50 p.m. the Society was contacted by a resident who saw a couple dumping paint into a street storm drain northwest of the hatchery. The City of Coquitlam was alerted by that resident.

A Society volunteer went to the creek to check for spillage and white paint was found by the footbridge on Hoy Trail off LaSalle Place south. Paint was coming in through an inflow side channel and pooling in an area before the main stream where coho salmon fry like to find refuge.

A City representative was on the scene shortly after and placed an absorbent boom down just in time to catch most of the paint before it seeped into the main stream.

The Society reported the incident to the provincial government.

The Society was advised by the person reporting that the storm drain was on Michigan Drive which is northwest of the affected creek area. This area was canvassed by Society volunteers in the summer of 2019 after a large fish kill in the creek and hatchery earlier that year.

The City of Coquitlam has reported that they have investigated the issue and have been in contact with the Ministry of Environment. Enforcement measures are pending at the moment.

The public is urged to be mindful of storm drains, which are meant for rainwater only, and are not for refuse disposal.  Individuals observing a dumping or a fish kill in our streams, or the presence of any other possible pollutants are encouraged to immediately report the event to the authorities. Contact numbers are provided on our website’s contact page.

• A related Tri-City News article

• Paint spill in Hoy Creek in June, 2020

CLICK HERE TO READ HOME TIPS FOR HEALTHY STREAMS

The BLACK frame is the area of storm drains that flow into Hoy Creek to the area where the paint instream was discovered on Sept. 24. The GREEN is the storm drain system.

View fullsize

Photo taken at approximately 2:40 p.m.