Greetings Brooklyn Creek enthusiasts! A lot has happened this summer with the financial help of Pacific Salmon Foundation and technical help from Current Environmental Ltd and friends.
Earlier, we posted an article about the fish ladder repairs (fish ladder repairs). The construction part of the project was completed in August. There will be a need for volunteers to help with planting native plants in the riparian area this fall. We will wait for the rains to come before this is done.
Now, the focus is on Birkdale Farm. Approximately 1.6 km of Brooklyn Creek’s 6 km length is located on the property of Birkdale Farm, a dairy farm operated by Guy Sim. For 2022, BCWS received a grant from Pacific Salmon Foundation to undertake habitat improvements in the lower 450m of the stream, just upstream from Guthrie Road.
An Overview and Level 1 Fish Habitat Assessment was conducted on Brooklyn Creek in the lower and middle reaches (between the estuary and Anderton Road) in the summer of 2021 (Habitat Assessment link). The results of the Assessment showed that the lowest reach (in Baybrook Nature Park) received a Good rating, the four reaches between Baybrook park and Guthrie Road (located in Mack Laing Nature Park, the Brooklyn Creek Greenway, and Salish Park) received a Fair rating, and the upper reach on Birkdale Farm received a Poor rating. As a result, this section of the creek has been prioritized for restoration works during the next four years, including summer 2022.
Much of the stream channel on the farm property is very narrow, occluded with vegetation such as willow and Reed Canary Grass. The goal is to widen the channel as much as possible, stabilize the banks, replant the riparian areas with native vegetation, install spawning gravel, and create riffle/pool habitats. Current Environmental Ltd., a local biological consulting firm, is managing the project.
The grant amount for 2022 is approximately $20,000. However, much of the work could not be done without the help of volunteers and the generous support of local businesses. Leighton Contracting (2009) Ltd and LaFarge Courtenay Ltd in total are donating over $12,000 worth of spawning gravel and rock over the next 4 years. BCWS is very thankful for such generosity displayed by local businesses.
The work area will require planting of native vegetation once the rains have started. Please keep an eye out for the call for volunteers.
If you have any questions regarding these activities, please leave a note on the Contact Us page and we will respond to your query. And you can sign up for the occasional emailed updates to stay informed.
The Birkdale dairy cows are curious about newcomers. Hannah Sungaila, biologist for Current Environmental Ltd., gets a warm greeting.
Rupert Wong, principal of Current Environmental Ltd. and a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) is managing the project.
Somewhere in there is a narrow channel comprising Brooklyn Creek. The goal of the project is to widen the creek bed, install riffles and pools, and replace non-native vegetation lining the streambanks with native species.
BCWS Volunteer setting a fish trap to collect fish fry that may be in the stream channel where work will commence.
Over a 4-day period in early September, 127 fry were collected and relocated to Salish Park.
The owner of Birkdale Farm, Guy Sim (on left), was as surprised as everyone else when so many fry were trapped and removed from this small section of the stream.
Remember to sign up for the occasional emailed updates to stay informed.