As last weekB次元官网网址檚 rain showered the Comox Valley for days, signalling the definitive onset of fall, numerous residents of the Comox Valley witnessed the return of hundreds of salmon at Brooklyn Creek.
B次元官网网址淭here was no life in this creek over the past years, and it has been like that for quite a while,B次元官网网址� said Comox resident Robin Dickson. B次元官网网址淭his is the first year in nearly a decade that salmon have returned in such abundance. ItB次元官网网址檚 truly a remarkable year.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淢y wife came back home this morning and told me that she saw the salmon going up the stream while walking the dog,B次元官网网址� added Comox resident Jorg Lingheimer. B次元官网网址淲e are both super excited. ItB次元官网网址檚 just so fascinating, I canB次元官网网址檛 believe it.B次元官网网址�
Thanks to the dedication of the Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society (BCWS), countless volunteers have put in years of effort to restore this eight-kilometre stream, creating a suitable habitat for salmon to lay their eggs.
Flowing from its headwaters near Crown Isle Golf Resort and emptying into Comox Bay, the creek provides the perfect habitat for a wide range of birds, aquatic mammals, and various fish species, including the cutthroat trout, coho salmon, and chum salmon.
Originally recognized as a coho run, this year marks the enigmatic comeback of an unprecedented number of pink salmon.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 the most adult salmon weB次元官网网址檝e seen in the creek for some time,B次元官网网址� said John Neilson, one of the directors at the BCWS.
Despite the lack of a definitive explanation for the presence of pink salmon, numerous theories have been proposed.
B次元官网网址淪ome have speculated that the pinks weB次元官网网址檙e seeing are the offspring of the 2021 season that coming back to the stream for the end of their two-year life cycle,B次元官网网址� said Neilson. B次元官网网址淥thers have speculated that this might represent a kind of spillover from a larger run at Puntledge River.
B次元官网网址淎nother (theory) is that there is a lot of pink salmon are being pumped into the ocean by the U.S. in Alaska, so maybe some of those fish are straying off and started establishing populations in some of our local streams.B次元官网网址�
Inviting everyone to observe this marvel of nature, Neilson emphasizes the importance of adopting the proper behaviours around the creek to ensure the survival rate of this yearB次元官网网址檚 spawn.
B次元官网网址淎s opposed to pink salmon which immediately down to the ocean (after hatching) and spend virtually no time in freshwater, cohos spend their first year of life in freshwater,B次元官网网址� said Neilson. B次元官网网址淭hey hang out in Brooklyn Creek for that first year and have to deal with the sort of rigours of torrential winter rains, summer droughts, and urban activities. These fish are subject to a lot of challenges.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why we encourage people who are walking along the stream to make sure they stay on the walkable paths and keep their dogs on a leash, out of the stream.B次元官网网址�
The Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society encourages anyone to report polluters and poachers at 1-800-465-4336, available 24/7.
For those who would like to volunteer with the society and help in future projects, visit
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