Tackling Invasive Touch-Me-Nots in Our Watershed

Near the Hoy Trail head by Douglas College.

On July 13 and 24 a few volunteers from the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society gathered to take on an important task: managing the spread of an invasive plant species known as the Smallflower Touch-me-not (Impatiens parviflora). Originally from Asia, this plant has made its way into our local ecosystem, where it poses a threat to native flora and the overall health of our watershed.

Armed with gloves and a commitment to stewardship, our team focused on removing the invasive Touch-me-nots from the area. Fortunately, the roots of this species grow close to the surface, making it relatively easy to pull out and remove. Our efforts were met with success, thanks to the hard work of Anne, Adela, and Robbin, who put in valuable volunteer hours to help protect our local environment.

The Smallflower Touch-me-not is a fast-growing plant that can outcompete native vegetation, especially in moist, shaded areas like the understory of our forests. Its rapid spread disrupts the balance of our local ecosystems, impacting the plants and animals that depend on them. To learn more about this invasive species and the challenges it poses, visit the BC Invasive Species Council’s page on the Smallflower Touch-me-not here.

Efforts like this invasive plant removal are crucial in maintaining the health of our watersheds. By preventing the spread of invasive species, we help protect the native plants that are vital to our local ecosystem.

Thank you to our volunteers for your time and effort! Every plant pulled is a step toward a healthier, more balanced environment.

Hoy Trail north of the rearing pond on July 24.

Working with Park Spark (City of Coquitlam) along with Broombusters and the Talitha Koum Society on June 28, we learned about Touch-Me-Nots for the first time. We also pulled English Ivy at this location north of the hatchery off Pinewood.

Hoy Creek Habitat Restoration Project

Society wide angle photo of Hoy Creek looking from west to east.

Thanks to a grant from Pacific Salmon Foundation and the support of Lafarge Canada the Hoy Creek Habitat Restoration Project took place between June 26 and July 5. It was coordinated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Hoy/Scott Watershed Society.

The project’s goal is to provide ability to better manage water flows, restoring natural habitat and increasing security against pollution events.

Project elements:

Hoy Creek Hatchery manager, and vice president of Hoy/Scott Watershed Society reviewed time lapse footage of the work.

  • Tree removals for outlet improvements;

  • Removal of failing concrete outlet structure;

  • Resurfacing of aging rearing pond and replacement of failed flow control valve;

  • Construct a naturalized outlet channel, including stabilize the streambank to support spawning and

  • Increase rearing and broodstock capabilities with a secondary circular tub to mitigate effects of extended drought periods by allowing multipe species to be held (Chum, Coho).

During the work, the trail was closed for pedestrian safety and marked with signage. Thank you to the City of Coquitlam for support!

Society volunteer reviewing the work.

HSWS Membership Renewal Notice

Dear Hoy/Scott Watershed Society Members,

In 2023 we resolved to change our membership year to coincide with our active time and synchronize to our insurance cycle. 

Our updated bylaws state, "Memberships are valid from September 1st through August 31st. New members who apply and pay their membership fee after May 1st of a given year will hold valid membership through August 31st of the following year."

  1. If you joined us after May 1 of 2024, your membership is valid until August 31, 2025. No payment required until next year at this time. 

  2. If you joined us prior to May 1 of 2024, membership renewal is required. 
    Students are $5; Individuals $15; and Families $25

  3. Payments received now through Sept. 1 will cover you until August 31, 2025. 

  4. Please remit payment via our website PayPal system, HERE. Click this yellow Donate button on our website. 

Benefits of membership:

  1. You are covered under our insurance and therefore can perform volunteer work with us.

  2. You receive weekly updates from our hatchery manager about upcoming work and opportunities.

  3. You can vote at our meetings.

  4. You support our efforts!

Are you a NEW Member? Or, returning after some time?

If you would like to join us for the first time, it’s important that you complete our registration form and then submit your payment.

Have you let your membership lapse and wish to return? Great! Please complete the registration form and then submit your payment.

Questions about membership? Email us at hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com

Through stewardship, community outreach, education and advocacy, we are dedicated to protecting the
Hoy/Scott Watershed.

Over 12,000 Coho Fry Clipped at Hoy Creek Hatchery

Thank you to all of our volunteers who came out on June 21 to take part in our annual coho fry fin clipping exercise. We clipped 12,400 coho fry! The salmon are approximately 3 months old.

The exercise was supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and held in front of Hoy Creek Hatchery in Coquitlam .

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 the retention of the coho. The procedure also allows for a manual fish count, whereas previously only weight sample counts took place.

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.

A portion of the fish will be ponded at various creek locations in Coquitlam and the remaining will soon be transferred from the hatchery Capilano trough room to the outdoor rearing pond until Salmon Leave Home in May 2025. Fish from this brood could then return in about 1.5–2.5 years.

NOTICE: Hoy Creek Habitat Restoration and Improvements

The projects goal is to provide ability to better manage water flows, restoring natural habitat and increasing security against pollution events.

Project elements:

  • Tree removals for outlet improvements;

  • Removal of failing concrete outlet structure;

  • Resurfacing of aging rearing pond and replacement of failed flow control valve;

  • Construct a naturalized outlet channel, including stabilize the streambank to support spawning and

  • Increase rearing and broodstock capabilities with a secondary circular tub to mitigate effects of extended drought periods by allowing multipe species to be held (Chum, Coho).

During the work, the trail will be closed for pedestrian safety and marked with signage. Trail closures will be in placeimpacting accessibitliy for the trail section fromt eh hatchery, north towards Walton Elementary. Hoy Creek Linear trail from Guildford Way to White Pine Place will be open during construction, with intermittent traffic control for deliveries. It is anticipated the closures to be for 1–2 weeks as heavy equipment work completes.

Construction Schedule: June 26 – July 5


Questions?

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Catherine McClean

catherine.mcclean@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Community Advisor, Lower Fraser - North

604-230-4126



Hoy-Scott Watershed Society

Tyler Storgaard

hoyscottwatershed@gmail.com

Hatchery Manager, Vice-President

778-835-9867



Rearing Pond Salvage Saves Crayfish, Lamprey and Coho

Hoy/Scott Watershed Society conducted our annual rearing pond salvage on May 29.

Coho smolts were released on May 18. The floor boards were removed. The water drained from the pond leaves lots of discoveries for invertebrates and crustaceans like crayfish, stoneflies and lamprey. We found crayfish, coho fry and smolts and caddis fly. All were released into the stream.

Thanks to our volunteers who helped out.

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 and floorboards returned. The creek water will then be reintroduced to make way for the transfer of Coho fry from the hatchery.

This year our back pond area will also be cleaned.

A final look in the rearing pond before dark.

Youth Volunteer Takes Top Honour at City Environmental Event

Thomas Kempin, youth volunteer from Hoy Creek Hatchery receives his award and stand for a photo with the mayor and councelours.

Thank you to the City of Coquitlam for hosting us at the 2024 Environmental Achievement Awards at Blue Mountain Park on June 1.

The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society was well represented in the nominations:

  • The Society was in the Environmental Group nominations

  • Thomas Kempin and Matt Watts were among the Youth nominations

  • Robbin Whachell was in the Adult nomination

A big congratulations to our youth winner, Thomas Kempin!

Thomas stands with his parents after receiving his acknowledgement.

Left to right from Hoy/Scott Watershed Society: Kyle Uno, Anne Woosnam, Robbin Whachell, Tyler Storgaard, and Thomas Kempin at Blue Mountain Park.

Hoy Creek Trail Clean with Talitha Koum Society

Thanks to our friends from the Talitha Koum Society who helped with a trail clean by Hoy Creek on May 24.

Despite the wet weather, a lot got done!

“We’ve been through this area last fall,” said Robbin Whachell, a director at Hoy/Scott Watershed Society who led the group, “and it’s always disheartening to see the return of all the trash where we once cleaned. This area is so beautiful.”


Coho Released on May 18

With optimal weather conditions and no fanfare, the Coho salmon housed in the Hoy Creek Hatchery rearing pond were released on May 18.

In 2024 the Hoy/Scott Watershed Society shifted focus of the public release to Chum salmon, because our chum salmon, unlike Coho, do not reside in fresh water for an extended period.

Volunteers lifted the slats to the rearing pond outflow and the Coho were on their way.

Once released to the creek, the Chum begin their journey to the ocean: Hoy Creek → Scott Creek → Coquitlam River → Fraser River → Strait of Georgia into the Pacific Ocean.

The rearing pond will next be cleaned, and prepared for the incoming Coho fry in the hatchery’s Capilano trough room.

Hoy Trail Invasive Species Pull Held

Thanks to Hoy/Scott Watershed Society volunteer, Krista who organized a group invasive pull along Hoy Trail with members of Eagle Ridge United Church on Sunday, April 28. The focus was English ivy, but some Laurel was removed as well. The event was supported by the City of Coquitlam's Urban Forestry team.