Nicomekl Enhancement Society Open House & Fish Release
Posted on April 23rd 2012, by Rodney Hsu, webmaster
Nicomekl Enhancement Society will be hosting its annual open house and fish release on Saturday April 28th, 2012. From 11:00am to 2:00pm, visitors can get a guided tour of the hatchery and release 28,000 chinook salmon fry! Hot dogs and drinks are available by donations.
NES's hatchery is located at 5263 232nd Street in Langley (just south of 56th Avenue).
The Nicomekl Enhancement Society is a 100% volunteer organization based out of Langley in British Columbia, dedicated to the preservation and restoration of the Nicomekl River watershed. Every year, volunteers at the society rear and release several species of salmon including chinook, coho, chum. The society also releases pink salmon every two years after helping the Chilliwack River Hatchery catch broodstock in the Chilliwack River.
On April 4, 1991 the Nicomekl Enhancement Society was formerly incorporated as a society. In 1992, the NES was invited to operate the Children's Trout pond at the BC Boat & Sportsmen's show in Abbotsford. It was during this, Bruce Coulter approached the NES for a membership. Upon getting to know several members of the group, Bruce gave a portion of his land, 1.66 hectares, to the NES as an incubation site with a Nicomekl tributary (Hatchery creek) running through it. This is the site the society currently uses today. In September 1992, a temporary hatchery facility, was created on the site and helped to raise 180,000 chum salmon. The group also began to participate in the school incubation program. In 1994, Bruce deeded the land to the NES, amid much fanfare. In 2000 an almost 100 meter long boardwalk was built for the benefit and pleasure of everyone.
Since its foundation, NES volunteers have helped with maintaining and improving runs of coho and chum, and establish a permanent run of chinook after an absence of 80 years. NES volunteers have done much to clean, clear and maintain good flow in the Nicomekl River as well as in many of the smaller tributaries of the main river.
If you are interested in helping out on April 28th or other volunteer opportunities that are available throughout the year, please either come to the open house or email Nicomekl Enhancement Society.
