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 the creek through community projects and public education, and monitor its rejuvenated populations of coho salmon, chum salmon and cutthroat trout.
September Meeting Sept. 4 at 7:00pm at Ron McLean Park in SE Burnaby. The parking lot is just south on Hedley Ave. from Rumble St. From Edmonds Skytrain station walk five minutes west -- follow the tracks north and then go west down the trail between the creek and the townhouse complexes to the park.
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers Facebook Group
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2017 as of Nov. 13, 2017 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 24 | 18 |
| Coho | 6 | 4 |
Salmon spawn in Byrne Creek from mid-October to late December. Streamkeepers patrol the creek regularly to count spawners and process them to collect data after they have died. Counted carcasses are cut in half and returned to the creek to provide nutrients for the ecosystem. Please do not bother spawning salmon - observe from a reasonable distance and stay on trails. Dogs? Please keep your owners out of the creek from October to May, when the eggs have hatched :-).
New record for Byrne Creek since it was reconnected to the Fraser! (Note, a few more fish came in through mid-December and the final tally was over 150 combined chum and coho.)
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2016 as of Nov. 23, 2016 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 133 | 130 |
| Coho | 12 | 12 |
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2015 as of Nov. 18, 2015 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 30 | 29 |
| Coho | 8 | 6 |
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2014 as of Dec. 22, 2014 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 7 | 2 |
| Coho | 29 | 10 |
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2013 as of Jan. 7, 2014 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 2 | 1 |
| Coho | 30 | 26 |
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2012 as of Dec. 29 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 21 | 19 |
| Coho | 7 | 7 |
Burnaby Now story on salmon returning to spawn in Byrne and Stoney Creeks.
Video of chum salmon spawning in Byrne Creek, Oct. 16, 2012:
Volunteer Organization of the Year presented to the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers by the Washington-BC Chapter of the American Fisheries Society: BCSS cited as "Volunteers who have made exemplary contributions to fisheries conservation, education, and science." Certificate presented on Sept. 13, 2012.
Congratulations to longtime Byrne Creek Streamkeeper volunteers David and Jane Burkholder who received a 2012 Environment Award for Community Service from the City of Burnaby! (photo by Yumi Kosaka)
Kids from Neilson Grove Elementary interviewed a Byrne Creek volunteer about streamkeeping activities:
Byrne Creek Streamkeepers from Neilson Grove Elementary on Vimeo.
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2011 as of Dec. 30 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 18 | 15 |
| Coho | 21 | 21 |
One of our "elders" and founding members has passed away. Bert Richardson was a mentor, a keeper of lore, and a fine and gentle man. We will all miss him, though his spirit will always accompany streamkeepers as we continue our salmon life-cycle activities through the seasons along Byrne Creek. Thanks for everything, Bert. And thanks to the Burkholders for this great photo of Bert on spawner patrol some years back.
Download here - 5.7MB PDF file
After one of our worst spawning seasons ever, with only one female coho found spawned, streamkeepers have identified coho fry (babies) popping up in the creek. This is amazing news!
Byrne Creek has suffered yet another fish kill. The source appears to have been runoff from a house fire. This is very unfortunate for the residents, and the creek. We commend Burnaby firefighters for ensuring the safety of the community, and hope to meet with them on possibly exploring ways of controlling runoff. An initial report and photos can be found here.
Burnaby Now coverage here.| Returning Spawner Counts for 2010 as of Dec. 6 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 9 | 5 |
| Coho | 10 | 8 |
While we've been functioning just fine with a minimum of structure for over ten years, we have incorporated as a registered BC non-profit society. New regulations for volunteer insurance were the final straw, though we've talked of establishing a more formalized administrative structure for years. Stay tuned for updates on the new board of directors, executive, and membership information.
Meet the new board of directors:
A chemical entered the creek, most likely through a drain on a street or in a parking lot, on March 4, killing hundreds of fish. (Update on March 5: streamkeepers and City of Burnaby staff had counted nearly 500 dead trout, coho smolts and coho fry, in less than a quarter of the creek's length, so the total number of dead is likely well over 1,000.) More photos here.
Media coverage of the kill: Burnaby Now article, Burnaby Newsleader article, CBC Web article, Globe & Mail article, Metro article.
More updates: Burnaby Now on lack of enforcement, Burnaby Now editorial, Burnaby Now on Mayor, Council Push for Education, Call for Public Help, March 11 Burnaby Newsleader followup
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2009 as of Dec. 6 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 9 | 6 |
| Coho | 4 | 4 |
| Returning Spawner Counts for 2008 as of Dec. 7 | ||
| Sighted | Confirmed -- dead fish evaluated | |
| Chum | 26 | 25 |
| Coho | 8 | 8 |
Two male chum vie over a female spawner near the footbridge.
On June 20, 2008, Adera Development Corp. handed a $7,500 cheque over to the Pacific Salmon Foundation that is designated for projects by the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers. Adera has already printed colour brochures for the Byrne Creek Streamkeepers, so the total donation is $10,000. Thanks! Adera has built several developments in the Byrne Creek watershed, and wanted to give back to the community by supporting the efforts of the streamkeepers. Byrne Creek Streamkeepers plan to use the funds to assist in the construction of stormwater management facilities such as rain gardens and biofiltration ponds in conjunction with the City of Burnaby.
Photo by Cindy Sommerfield
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Paul Cipywnyk: | paul@cipywnyk.com |
| Joan Carne: | tobydog2000@shaw.ca |
| David Burkholder: | DavidBurkholder@shaw.ca |