Over 10,000 Coho Fry Marked at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Fisheries and Oceans Canada supported Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam for our annual fin clip on June 20. 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 retention of the coho.

  • The procedure also allows for a manual fish count, whereas previously only weight sample counts took place.

The operation was overseen by DFO fisheries community advisor, Isaac Nelson and Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard. Volunteers of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society assisted.

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 2023. Fish from this brood could then return in about 2.5–3 years.

Thanks to all those who helped out this year!

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. 

City Archives Features Hoy/Scott Watershed Society History

The previous Brewer family property at Hoy Creek, the location of today’s Hoy Creek Hatchery.

In a June 15, 2022 information bulletin put out by the City of Coquitlam titled, “Exhibit Explores Coquitlam’s Historic Connection to Salmon” the City Archives promotes the records provided by Hoy/Scott Watershed Society (HSWS) in 2020 as their ‘newest’ online exhibit.

“A gift of records to Coquitlam Archives from the HSWS in 2020 provides insights into the rich role the community has played in restoring the Hoy-Scott watersheds. Meticulous records also highlight the thought, care and training involved in reintroducing salmonids to the Coquitlam watershed.“

Rearing Pond Invertebrate Salvage

Crayfish catch! All found in the bottom of the rearing pond. (Photo: HSWS)

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society conducted the annual rearing pond salvage on May 24.

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. One salmon smolt, as well as about a dozen fry, were also found. All were released into the stream.

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.

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 2023.

(Photo: HSWS)

Tyler searching with flashlight. (Photo: HSWS)

(Photo: HSWS)

Native Plants Added to Riparian Area of Hoy Creek

Volunteers of Hoy/Scott Watershed Society planting along Hoy Trail. (Photo: HSWS)

Protecting our riparian area…

During the pandemic, the Hoy Creek Linear Park saw a lot more foot traffic as people enjoyed outdoor spaces. Both 2020 and 2021 provided good salmon returns and viewing was at an all-time high as people traveled from all over to view the returning chum and coho.

With not many event options, viewing salmon was a big draw for many, and the Society noticed the effect on the plants of the riparian area.

Through the support of the City of Coquitlam, after a walk-about to review the trail and many ‘new’ access points to the creek, about 100 native plants were provided for Society volunteers to fill in bald spots.

Fencing was also discussed in the highest traffic areas so plant life can continue to do its part in protecting the stream, and subsequently the salmon.

Learn more about the riparian area.

(Photo: HSWS)

New Executive for Hoy/Scott Watershed Society

The new executive of the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society 2022. Seen left to right: Robbin Whachell, Director; Anne Woosnam, Secretary; Kim Mayes, Director; Matthew Watts, Director; Sandra Uno, Treasurer; Kyle Uno, President; Rodney Lee, Director; Samantha Carpenter, Director; and Tyler Storgaard, Vice President. (Photo: HSWS)

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society held its annual general meeting on May 18. The meeting, with elections, were held virtually through Zoom conferencing.

The new executive is as follows:

  • President: Kyle Uno

  • Vice President: Tyler Storgaard

  • Treasurer: Sandra Uno

  • Secretary: Anne Woosnam

  • Directors: Rodney Lee, Robbin Whachell, Kim Mayes, Matthew Watts and Sam Carpenter

Thanked after serving three terms as secretary and one year as a director is Emily Rossi. Lani Lehun was also thanked for her years as a director and work as the past assistant hatchery manager. Anne Woosnam steps in as the new assistant hatchery manager, as announced by hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard.

The Society is looking forward to input and enthusiasm from new executive members and will be getting together for a planning meeting to review the year ahead.

The photo above was taken after work digging invertebrates from the hatchery rearing pond which is now empty and drained. The coho smolts were released on May 14 and the pond will be cleaned and refilled to soon house the 2021/22 coho fry until release in May 2023.

Hoy - Scott Watershed Society, (HSWS) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run environmental stewardship group, that conducts a salmon enhancement program in partnership with the City of Coquitlam, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

 

Coho Off to Sea After Successful Salmon Leave Home Event

It's off to see until you are three! We'll see you again when you are all grown, and return to make your little ones a home. – A resident poses with his four-legged friend in front of our selfie-station. (Photo: HSWS)

Thanks to those who came to our Freshwater Hoy School Graduation of our cohos of 2022!

Our Salmon Leave Home 2022 theme was Keeping Salmon Safe, focusing on the health and life-cycle of the salmon, as well as the health of the riparian area. The event took place at Hoy Creek Hatchery on May 14.

Visitors were able to sign a bon voyage card for the salmon, pledge stating what they could do to protect the fish, take a photo in front of a selfie station and play the Plinko game trying to get their salmon to saltwater safety. Coho fry were on display and Rodney Lee provided salmon education. Families learned about the hatchery and salmon life-cycle as well identification of invasive plants for Invasive Species Awareness Month.

Rodney Lee, HSWS Director provides salmon education. (Photo: HSWS)

The first 18 months of the life history of the coho salmon is spent in a freshwater stream environment. HSWS volunteers incubate coho eggs and rear fry to the smolt stage in our rearing pond. From the creek, the smolts begin their journey to the ocean: Hoy Creek → Scott Creek → Coquitlam River → Fraser River → Strait of Georgia / Pacific Ocean!

In alignment with our theme, Keeping Salmon Safe, we did not do our usual salmon release with buckets. Our coho had a tough winter and our aim is to reduce their stress.

HSWS volunteer, Jo assists a Coquitlam family with the salmon Plinko game. (Photo: HSWS)

Coho Smolts Released to Hoy Creek

Following the Salmon Leave Home event, we were able to release our coho smolts from the rearing pond – a pure coincidence with the event! This took place by lifting the boards between the rearing pond and the creek channel.

“Our objective was to time the release with high water and steady flows to ensure the smolts could have a safe run out,” said hatchery manager, Tyler Storgaard. “The conditions on the day of the event were good.”

2740 smolts were released with an average weight of 18.9g. It takes the smolts anywhere from two to seven days to make it out to sea.

View more photos on our Facebook page.

City Nature Challenge: Aquatic Life in Hoy Creek

Challenge (CNC), a friendly global competition that encourages people to find and document wildlife in their cities.   

The Tri-Cities will compete with communities around the world to gather the most observations about nature, find the most species and engage the most people from Apr. 29 to May 2 through iNaturalist, a project of National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences. 

You can always take part in this on your own. Just download the app and head out into nature to explore and document plants, animals and other organisms.

For updates on the Tri-Cities' results during the challenge, visit the Tri-Cities iNaturalist project page.

Read the City of Coquitlam information bulletin.

Using iNaturalist

An initiative of National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences, iNaturalist is a network of citizens, naturalists and biologists who map and share observations about biodiversity around the globe.

Open to everyone, members can browse nearby posts, upload their own images and audio recordings, and receive feedback and information from the iNaturalist community.

To have your observations counted for the Tri-Cities in this year’s City Nature Challenge:

Go to inaturalist.org or download the free iNaturalist app from the App Store or Google Play and create an account.

Under Projects, search for and join “City Nature Challenge 2022: Tri-Cities, British Columbia”.

From April 29 to May 2, click Observe on the app or Add Observations on the website to add observations of any wild living or dead organism you see in the Tri-Cities – including plants, animal, birds, fungi, etc. – or evidence of them, such as shells, feathers or scat.

Observations may include descriptions, uploaded photos, or photo or audio recordings through the app. Photos should be clear and full-frame.

Visit the CNC FAQ page at citynaturechallenge.org for detailed instructions and tips for making eligible observations.


Spill Report from March 7, 2022

Thanks to Mike for the photo

Thank you to an area resident for sending us photos of a spill in Hoy Creek on Monday, March 7 at 4:25 p.m.

Should you see a spill in any city waterway please contact the City of Coquitlam as soon as possible at their 24-hour emergency number: 604-927-3500. It also helps to email photos to epw@coquitlam.ca

Note, that we keep this info in the hatchery display window as well as at our hoyscottcreeks.org/contact page.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was able to go in and check our real-time water monitoring through the City of Coquitlam and Flowlink Environmental.

Water turbidity peaked at 4:23 p.m., the time the above photos were taken.

Realtime Water Monitoring Set-up at Hoy Creek

Thanks to the City of Coquitlam, on February 10, Flowlink Environmental set up a water monitoring system on Hoy Creek near the hatchery.

Flowlink had already been working with Hoy/Scott Watershed Society since the beginning of 2021 providing manual weekly testing, but this new setup provides real-time monitoring and an alert system.

"We're really excited about this new arrangement and hope it will lead to swift results in identifying pollutants and hopefully polluters, resulting in a safer environment for our salmon at the hatchery as well as in the stream," said society president, Robbin Whachell.

Over the years, the hatchery has had several fish kills in the stream as well as a major fish kill in the hatchery.


Related:

Steve of Flowlink on his first bi-weekly visit by the company to ensure all equipment is operating accurately.

Spawner Survey Results for 2021

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society director, Rodney Lee led our spawner survey for 2021. Assisting him this year was Kyle Uno, Krista Englund and Anne Woosnam.

Spawner surveys are a basic form of stock assessment where the data can be used to gauge the health of salmon returns. In short, we walk the creek and count live and dead salmon (by species) to get a sense of the number of returning fish. Data is submitted to the Streamkeeper’s database as well as to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Participants walk in chest waders in and around the stream including stepping over fallen trees, walking on in-stream rocks and muddy banks, and crouching under overhanging tree branches to identify salmon species targeting chum and coho but occasionally other species (chinook, pink) may have been seen.

The weekly survey area was the stretch of Hoy Creek from the Johnson St. pool (between Glen and Guildford) to Hoy Creek Hatchery and statistics were taken from Oct. 13 and Dec. 29.

In some cases, females don’t lay all of their eggs.

Here are the survey details:

Total Survey Days: 13

Peak live date chum: Nov. 8 (146)

Peak live date coho: Nov. 21 (53)

Peak live date chinook: Oct. 24 (1)

Total dead recovered (across all surveys):

Chum: 195

Coho: 38 (77% were wild - unmarked)

Chinook: 2

salmon eggs, gravel, creek, leaves

Otoliths (ear bones) removed from the head of the salmon (2 small triangular shaped bones on the back of the hand). Volunteers were shown a demonstration of how this is conducted. Although not used with chum, otoliths are removed for other salmon stocks as a measure of age determination and/or hatchery thermal marking fish.