A Burnaby man renowned for his nature photography and dedication to protecting Byrne Creek is reporting a “small tragedy” involving spawning salmon.
Paul Cipywnyk posted on his blog about volunteers making a grim discovery during a creek tour on Thursday.
“Volunteers patrolled Byrne Creek in SE Burnaby, BC, today for spawning salmon,” Cipywnyk wrote. “It was a good count for our little urban creek, but unfortunately we are yet again seeing Coho prespawn mortality. This means that Coho die before they spawn, and the first female we found this year was dead yet full of eggs. This issue has been studied in Washington State, and the smoking gun is a chemical in tires that washes off roads and into creeks. For some reason it kills Coho but Chum are not affected. We get so few Coho back every year that each unspawned female is a small tragedy.”
This is the time of year when many locals visit area creeks, streams and rivers to watch the salmon return.
These are some of the best areas where you can see the fish returning.
- Stoney Creek
- Cariboo Dam at the east end of Burnaby Lake
- Eagle Creek (Charles Rummel Park is a good viewing location)
- Beecher Creek
- Guichon Creek (behind the BCAA building on Willingdon Glen looking downstream is a good viewing spot)
- Still Creek (on Gilmour across from Dick's Lumber looking upstream is often a good spot)
- Buckingham Creek on the north side of the Deer Lake Beach parking lot) will often have chum return in early November.
From late summer to early winter in B.C., Pacific salmon return to creeks, streams, and rivers to spawn. The Pacific Salmon Foundation has assembled a series of regional guides on where and when to view Pacific salmon this season in other parts of Metro Vancouver.
PSF’s salmon viewing guides, available for Metro Vancouver and Sea-to-Sky, Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley, Southern Interior, and the Tri-Cities, include family-friendly locations with clearly-marked trails and public viewing areas. Looking for a great reason to get outside, rain or shine, and see one of nature’s most spectacular migrations, look no further.
Visit psf.ca/salmonspotting to find out which species you might expect to see at the selected locations and the best times to visit. Check out the Metro Vancouver page for the region’s top 8 viewing spots.
“Salmon spawning is a true wonder of the natural world. There’s no better way to get outside this season than by adventuring into your own community to witness Pacific salmon spawning in rivers and streams. In building this connection to salmon, our communities can be a part of conservation efforts,” says Michael Meneer, President and CEO of the Pacific Salmon Foundation.
Here are PSF’s tips for salmon spotting this fall:
- Give salmon space and stay out of the stream. If you are near salmon spawning areas the streambed may already contain redds (nests of salmon eggs). Walking in the water disturbs the fish and can kill the eggs.
- Be prepared for nature. Dress appropriately and for all kinds of weather and know the conditions of where you are going. Polarized sunglasses and binoculars can make it easier to see fish in the water.
- Keep dogs on a leash. If you come with a dog, keep your pet on a leash and out of the river or leave your dog at home.
- Approach spawning areas quietly. Approach the river bank quietly so spawning salmon aren’t disturbed. Do not step into the river, and do not throw rocks or sticks into the water.
- Continue to learn about and help salmon. Continue your experience by learning more about Pacific salmon and the ways you can help with salmon conservation efforts in B.C. Connect with a local stream keeper group and consider volunteering!
