Download Tofino Streams Overview Map (PDF)
Download 2008 MacKenzie Creek Smolt Report (PDF)
Annual General Meeting
April 8th, 2010
6pm at the Clayoquot Community Theatre
Everyone welcome!!
Red Gold
Followed by an environmental documentary about the 2 most prolific sockeye salmon runs in Bristol Bay Alaska, and how the community feels about the proposed copper and gold mines at the head of Kvichak and Nushagak rivers.
April 8th, 2010
7:30 pm at the Clayoquot Community Theatre
redgoldfilm.com
Mackenzie Creek
Tofino's largest Coho and Cutthroat bearing stream (approx 4kms), Mackenzie Creek has had rehabilitation work done on many of its reaches. Development has interfered with returning fish populations in some high traffic areas. Many sections have received spawning gravel, excavation and/or riparian area planting to help migrating salmon have a clean, oxygenated creek to come back to.
Smolt Trap at Mackenzie Creek
As a tool in measuring the success of the Mackenzie Creek restoration projects, the Tofino Streamkeepers and Tofino Salmon Enhancement Society (with help from the Pacific Salmon Foundation) have installed a smolt trap every spring for the past 4 years at a section of the creek that leads out to the great big sea. This trap enables us to catch, count, and release fish that are migrating though, letting us know just how successful our restoration work has been. This past year was by far the most rewarding. We counted over 2000 fish (mostly Coho) migrating through Mackenzie Creek!
Centennial Creek
Centennial Creek is a small creek that runs under First Street in Tofino, near Tonquin Park Area. Again, development has prevented proper water flow from encouraging fish to live here. Over time, this creek and its surrounding riparian area had become more of a landfill than a waterway, but this year Tofino Streamkeepers has worked with the classes of Wickaninnish Elementary School and the District of Tofino to clean out the stream, plant riparian vegetation to keep the stream sheltered and cool, and remove an old culvert clogging the creek. Future plans include working together to plant a rain garden (landscaping that absorbs rainwater runoff from hard surfaces such as roofs, driveways, parking lots and streets), provide educational signage and hopefully entice the fish back here once again!
Ah'ta;apq Creek
This creek is located in Hot Springs Cove and is in initial stages of restoration. A Streamkeepers course was given to community members in the early spring 2009. A crew went in soon after to fall some trees, which created gaps that allowed light to penetrate better through the forest. Cedar seedlings were also planted along some of the sparse riparian area to better bank stability, create more habitat, and keep the stream cool.