Restoration Process

Restoration Process

Post 4
Now that Salmon were added this story can have a happy ending right?

Well yes and no.
Yes because there is fish in the water and no because the school is not done restoring the creek. "Guichon Creek transects the east side of BCIT’s Burnaby Campus and is a fish bearing stream at its south end. Near the mid-point on campus, Guichon Creek spills into a large concrete culvert and travels underground through the north-east quadrant of the campus. Recent studies by the BCIT FWR Program faculty and students indicate that trout and salmon cannot navigate upstream through the underground section of the culvert" BCIT https://commons.bcit.ca/factorfour/2014/11/13/daylighting-guichon-creek/

https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/freshwater-fish-of-america/chum_salmon.html

Fish don't like to swim into dark tunnels for long periods of time as its not natural. this is a problem as currently 700 meters of the creek is currently culverted. Fish only swim into darkness if they see a light at the end.

Does this mean all hope is lost?
No, Large sections of this creek as well as still creek was culverted. According to Robin Taylor, Hemmera Environmental Manager
“We replaced the culvert that was there with these big box culverts, which have national substrate in the bottom of them, which is much more conducive to fish using them.”fish have also began to swim under the trans Canada Highway as they see light. What this means is that salmon have returned to Canada Highway which is connected to Guichon Creek through a culvert. Now that salmon have also been added to Guichon creek, all that's needed is a pathway that connects the 2.

Another thing to note:
Cutthroat trout were added into the creek and currently still reside at Guichon creek. These trout have been released into the creek for the past 17 years. This goes to show how long it takes for restoration to work. 
So if this works for Trout can it work for Salmon? Currently lower Guichon Creek has seen Chum Salmon return but they refuse to enter the 700 meter culvert. This is proof that these salmon have in fact wandered back into there spawning spots.
How do we get his Culvert out of the way?
Mark Angelo along with BCIT FWR program and the city of Burnaby are planning to add light to the culvert by opening a large chunk of the road. The more light added will result in salmon moving in and out of the culvert.