Skip to content

Restoration projects enhance North Shore salmon runs

Pink salmon are returning to the Indian River in record numbers — the result of extensive restoration work to the watershed in recent years.
Stream keepers

Pink salmon are returning to the Indian River in record numbers — the result of extensive restoration work to the watershed in recent years.

In 2012 the Tsleil-Waututh Nation teamed up with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to restore trout as well as pink, chum and coho salmon populations in the Indian River, a sacred area that has cultural significance for First Nations people.

“For the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, it’s a continued stewardship of the valley that they have practised for generations,” said Bridget Doyle, TWN environmental stewardship co-ordinator.

Historical logging activities and the installation of hydro transmission lines in the Indian River watershed have degraded sensitive fish habitats, according to the Tsleil-Waututh.

A huge area of off-channel and spawning habitats created last year — within the BC Hydro right-of-way that was otherwise brush — now connects to Indian River allowing fish better passage.

“It’s functioning quite well, considering it’s such a low-flow year,” said Doyle.

This week, work began on a third consecutive fish habitat conservation project in an area spanning 10 kilometres, starting at the estuary in the remotely located watershed at the northern tip of the Indian Arm. A small work crew is repairing the new side channels that were damaged by heavy rainfall over the winter, while also preparing for Phase 4 of the project, which involves enhancing or restoring existing rearing habits and spawning channels.

Since 2012, the Tsleil-Waututh has received approximately $150,000 each year for the projects from various sources, including BC Hydro, DFO, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Port Metro Vancouver and Fortis BC.  

Another salmon stewardship project is underway this week on the North Shore. The West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society has officially started work on the $150,000 Rodgers Creek Estuary Enhancement Project at the foot of 29th Street.

A valuable spawning habitat for chum, pink and coho salmon, Rodgers Creek has experienced higher stream flows in recent years, due to urbanization in the area, and has therefore become inhospitable for salmon. Erosion and flattened beach elevations on the West Van shoreline, meanwhile, have eliminated a natural channel through the estuary.

“Returning salmon can only get in at high tides, so there is a brief window (a few hours every two weeks)  that these fish can get in,” explained society treasurer Bill McAllister.

A new 65-metre channel starting at the Dundarave Park shoreline will provide returning salmon more of a chance to reach their spawning grounds during moderate tides, according to the society.

The project will be managed by the District of West Vancouver and is expected to be mostly completed by the end of this week. Funding for the project came from various organizations including the Pacific Salmon Foundation, West Vancouver Community Foundation and the Coho Society of the North Shore.