Spawner salmon surveys involve counting adult salmon that return to spawn each Fall in our local creeks. We conduct weekly surveys starting in late September or early October and continue until early December. We use this survey information to identify trends and spot problem areas.
In addition to the adult members of the Society conducting surveys on 14 creeks, we also coordinate similar surveys with secondary school students with 12 teams participating in 2024, each team led by a Streamkeeper sponsor.
2024 turned out to be a rewarding year for adult salmon returning into our creeks. The student program conducts surveys at Brothers and Hadden Creeks, our two most productive creeks.
Over the 17 years of this program, this Fall, in just those two creeks, we recorded our largest return year for coho salmon, our second largest return year for chinook salmon and our fifth largest return year for chum salmon. This is indeed gratifying for those devoting time to our all-volunteer organization.
In 2019, under guidance from our DFO Community Advisor, we commenced a program of prioritising Eagle and Nelson Creeks for the release of our hatchery chum fry. We are very encouraged that, after many years without observing returns into these creeks, that 2024 was a record-breaking year. We are hopeful that these returns will continue over the coming years and that these creeks will eventually have self-sustaining chum salmon populations.
In the Spring more surveys will be conducted when salmon fry are expected to emerge from the gravel. Some surveys are conducted visually, where volunteers sit quietly by a smooth section of the creek and count small fry.
Other surveys, in the more prominent creeks, are conducted by trap and release using gee traps (for minnows). This entails setting baited traps in the evening and retrieving them the following morning. Salmon fry are then counted and identified by species and size. The fry are then released unharmed back into the creek.
It is interesting that in a number of creeks where, in some years, no adults were observed in the Fall but emerging fry were found the following Spring. This is a clear indication that adult salmon had spawned during the prior Fall.
This shows the importance of surveys but it must be noted that Streamkeepers do not have unrestricted access to conduct these surveys. We do have access to creeks which flow through public land (i.e. parks) and where we have the encouragement and permission for access from local residents. However, there are a number of private property owners who do not allow access to the creek, thereby restricting our efforts and limit our ability to conduct complete surveys.
If you are a member of West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society and would be willing to assist with salmon surveys for the 7-week period this Fall at one of our creeks, please contact us at admin@westvancouverstreamkeepers.ca .
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