Byrne Creek Streamkeepers
Restoring and protecting the Byrne Creek watershed
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers are volunteers who monitor the health of this urban stream that drains a large watershed on the south slope of Burnaby, BC, runs through a beautiful ravine park, an artificial salmon spawning habitat, and then eventually flows into the mighty Fraser River. In its urbanized state, much of the rain that enters the creek comes from rain drains (aka storm drains) on city streets and parking lots. This water is not treated.
Streamkeepers restore and maintain the creek by undertaking enhancement projects, conducting public education, and monitoring its rejuvenated populations of coho salmon, chum salmon and cutthroat trout.
The Death and Rebirth of an Urban Stream
| 1960s: | Wild salmon and trout disappear as creek cut off from Fraser River |
| 1987: | Vancouver Angling and Game Association assessment with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. |
| late '80s: | City of Burnaby reconnects creek to Fraser River, volunteers start ongoing cleanups |
| 1989: | Coho salmon stocking initiated with volunteers and DFO |
| 1997: | Chum salmon stocking initiated with volunteers and DFO |
| 1998: | Toxic substance dumped into storm drain kills about 5,000 fish |
| 1999: | Byrne Creek Streamkeepers founded |
| 2004: | 91 spawners return to Byrne Creek, a post-restoration record |
| 2005: | 43 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| 2006: | Toxic substance dumped into storm drain kills about 800 trout and young salmon |
| 2006: | 35 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| 2007: | Toxic substance dumped into Byrne tributary John Mathews Creek kills dozens of fish |
| 2007: | 22 spawners return, extending a downward trend |
| 2008: | 33 spawners return, a slight increase |
| 2009: | 10 spawners return, a record low since monitoring began |
| 2010: | Toxic substance kills coho fry, coho smolts, and trout in March |
| 2010: | Runoff from a house fire kills hundreds of fish in November |
| 2010: | 13 spawners return, the second-lowest number in 15 years of monitoring |
To report a spill or illegal dumping: Burnaby 24-hour dispatch 604-294-7200
Contact Us
| Paul Cipywnyk: | paul@cipywnyk.com |
