These volunteers monitor the health of Byrne Creek that drains a large urban watershed along the south slope of Burnaby, BC, runs through a beautiful ravine park and spawning habitat, and into the Fraser River.
Streamkeepers help maintain and improve the creek through community projects and public education, and monitor and stock its rejuvenated populations of coho salmon, chum salmon and cutthroat trout.
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2007 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 18 | 15 |
| Coho | 7 | 7 |
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers released their Byrne Creek Watershed Status Report - 2006 on March 2, 2007. You can download a PDF of the report (5.8MB PDF file). You can also download the 2005 report (4.4MB PDF file) and the 2004 report (5.1MB PDF file).
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2006 as of Dec. 16 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 31 | 27 |
| Coho | 8 | 8 |
The original Stream of Dreams mural at the corner of Kingsway and Edmonds in Burnaby came down on June 27, 2006, after six years of charming the community. Byrne Creek Streamkeepers assisted in dismantling the mural that they helped create in 2000 to honor the deaths of 5,000 fish and other animals in Byrne Creek in 1998 when someone dumped a toxin into a storm drain. For details please see this press release. We encourage suggestions as to where the salvaged Dreamfish can go.
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2005 as of Dec. 29 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 18 | 17 |
| Coho | 26 | 26 |
The 2005 salmon spawning season ended with the last coho found on Dec. 29, 2005. Unfortunately, the return was less than half of 2004. Streamkeepers were also dismayed that very few male coho returned, and almost all of the female coho found had not spawned. The chum run was very low, less than a third of 2004.
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2004 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 67 | 67 |
| Coho | 24 | 24 |
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers have a private mailing list through which we share news, and information about activities and events. You can learn more about the list and apply to join it using this form. Membership is limited to active streamkeepers and volunteers.
| 1960s: | Wild salmon and trout disappear |
| 1987: | Vancouver Angling and Game Association assessment with Fisheries and Oceans Canada |
| 1989: | Coho salmon stocking initiated |
| 1997: | Chum salmon stocking initiated |
| 1998: | Toxic storm drain spill kills 5,000 fish |
| 1999: | Byrne Creek Streamkeepers founded |
| 1999: | Spawning habitat constructed |
| 2000: | First Stream of Dreams mural unveiled on BC Rivers Day |
| 2001: | 50 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| 2002: | Lowland reach re-excavated |
| 2002: | 72 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| 2003: | 62 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| 2004: | 91 spawners return to Byrne Creek |
| Joan Carne: | tobydog2000@shaw.ca |
| David Burkholder: | DavidBurkholder@shaw.ca |
| Paul Cipywnyk: | paul@cipywnyk.com |