Hi everyone, I hope you have had a good winter, and that the promise of our beautiful Comox Valley spring is brightening your days. The Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society (BCWS) has been busy working on behalf of the watershed and all that rely on it.
1. Birkdale Farm Restoration
A major initiative has been the rehabilitation of the stream through a section of Birkdale Farm. With the support of the landowner Mr. Guy Sim, a large number of partners and an even larger number of volunteers, the stream is being transformed from an overgrown, silty watercourse to a vibrant stream with salmon spawning habitat and lots of native vegetation providing food for developing fry. In 2024, this project enters its third of a planned four year-long restoration. We have completed our annual report to our principal funder (the Pacific Salmon Foundation), and worked with our partner Current Environmental Ltd. to develop a proposal for the 2024 work. The photos below show the transformative results these efforts have had. The coho must have liked them too, as spawners immediately claimed territory in the restored stream!
Click to enlarge: 3 photos showing restoration.
2. 6 PPD-Q Sampling
Click to enlarge: sampling water for 6 PPD-Q.
Brooklyn Creek volunteers have been busy sampling water for the presence of a contaminant from car tires known as 6 PPD-Q, a compound that is extremely toxic for salmonids even at low concentrations. BCWS is one of many partners representing different watersheds throughout eastern Vancouver Island, in this study led by BC Conservation Foundation (https://www.bccf.com). So far, the contaminant levels we detected are generally below the lethal concentrations for coho salmon. Ongoing sampling is happening.
3. Infrastructure Improvements
We have enjoyed great outings with the Town of Comox Parks staff in walking the sections of Brooklyn Creek upstream and downstream of the Balmoral Avenue crossing. During these walks, we discussed issues facing the watershed, and identified possible improvements to the infrastructure of both Mac Laing and Brooklyn Creek parks. The issues identified, among several, were sections of the Mac Laing Greenway that are being undercut by high water levels, and damage to some of the wooden walkways and handrails. The high priority list also includes improving protection for streamside vegetation and keeping walkers and their pets on the established paths. In this way, we will protect the ecological integrity of the watershed for all. Look for these exciting additions to occur this year.
4. Volunteer Opportunities
Looking down at smolts in fish capture box
A smolt being measured
The BCWS Board plans further opportunities for volunteers, including our popular coho smolt counting project. Let’s hope the strong returns we saw last year continue! Other volunteer opportunities will include work at the stream restoration at Birkdale Farm, planting native species and removing invasives.
The Board is always open for new ideas and volunteers. Brooklyn Creek always provides some possibilities for interesting new work – witness the surprise return of good numbers of pink salmon last fall! Please sign up for News Updates or to Volunteer to be notified of further details and information about our activities and volunteer opportunities.
The Board greatly appreciates your interest and support!
John Neilson
President, Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society